Richard Levesque is a seasoned executive leader with over 30 years of experience in lean transformation, operational excellence, and leadership development across multiple industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, military, and healthcare. With deep expertise in Toyota Production System principles, he has successfully transformed business operations, enhanced productivity, and fostered leadership growth on a global scale. Richard’s career has been dedicated to mentoring executives, developing strategic roadmaps, and implementing sustainable lean methodologies to drive long-term organizational success.

Throughout his career, Richard has played pivotal leadership roles in major corporations, including HABCO Industries, Radio Frequency Systems, MAAX Bath, and The Wiremold Company. He also served as Regional Director and Senior Sensei at Simpler Consulting, an IBM Company, where he guided executive teams in enterprise-wide lean transformations. His ability to identify inefficiencies, create structured improvements, and lead cultural change initiatives has resulted in multi-million-dollar cost savings, improved operational performance, and increased market competitiveness.

At HABCO Industries, Richard served as Chief Operating Officer, where he led factory operations, supply chain, logistics, and lean initiatives. Under his leadership, the company reduced its backlog from six months to two months, improved on-time delivery from 20% to over 90%, and increased inventory turnover from 2X to 8X. His ability to drive process efficiency and build a culture of continuous improvement positioned the company for long-term operational success.

Prior to HABCO, Richard held executive roles at Radio Frequency Systems, where he was instrumental in improving operational efficiency and production output. As Factory Director for North America, he led efforts that resulted in a 40% increase in Hybriflex production output while reducing headcount by 27%. Additionally, he enhanced on-time delivery from 45% to 72% within five months, showcasing his ability to implement rapid and sustainable operational improvements.

Richard’s expertise in lean manufacturing and business strategy was further refined at MAAX Bath, where he served as Vice President and General Manager for the Professional Division. Overseeing a $200 million business across North America, he successfully implemented strategic improvements that led to a 50% market share increase, a 75% reduction in lost-time injuries, and a significant boost in product quality and on-time delivery. His leadership in plant consolidation and process streamlining resulted in multi-million-dollar cost savings and increased profitability.

At Simpler Consulting, an IBM Company, Richard spent over 8 years coaching executive teams on enterprise-wide lean transformations. As Regional Director and Senior Sensei, he helped organizations achieve an ROI of 5-20X through structured process improvements, leadership coaching, and strategy execution. His depth of experience in value stream mapping, kaizen, and continuous improvement methodologies made him a trusted advisor to senior leaders across healthcare, military, and manufacturing sectors.

A strong advocate for leadership development, Richard has mentored numerous executives and rising leaders, guiding them through cultural transformation and change management initiatives. His ability to empower teams, foster accountability, and implement strategy deployment processes has helped organizations sustain lean principles for long-term success. His experience working in Japan, Brazil, China, France, and England has given him a global perspective on operational excellence and cross-cultural leadership.

In addition to his executive experience, Richard is fluent in French and has been mentored by Shingijutsu Senseis, the architects of Toyota Production System, for over 15 years. He is certified in Quality Function Deployment and has leveraged his expertise to drive innovation, improve product development cycles, and enhance customer value. His commitment to strategic planning, lean methodologies, and executive coaching has made him a sought-after leader in the field of operational transformation.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Richard enjoys golf, boating, snowmobiling, and gardening with his grandkids, reflecting his belief in teamwork, continuous learning, and balance in both professional and personal life. His passion for mentorship and leadership coaching continues to drive his commitment to helping organizations and executives reach their full potential.

As he actively seeks board opportunities, Richard aims to leverage his extensive leadership experience, lean expertise, and strategic mindset to help organizations navigate complex challenges, implement lasting cultural change, and drive sustainable business growth. His ability to blend operational knowledge with executive mentorship makes him an exceptional candidate for companies looking to achieve industry-leading excellence.

Character:

Richard Levesque is a principled and results-driven leader with a strong commitment to integrity, excellence, and accountability. His ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement and mentor future leaders reflects his dedication to organizational and personal growth.

Knowledge:

With deep expertise in Lean methodologies, Toyota Production System, and enterprise-wide strategy execution, Richard has successfully guided organizations through transformative improvements. His extensive experience across multiple industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, military, and healthcare, makes him a valuable asset for companies seeking operational excellence.

Strategic:

Richard is a visionary executive with a proven track record of driving operational efficiencies, increasing profitability, and leading cultural transformations. His ability to develop and execute long-term strategic plans has consistently resulted in sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

Communication:

As a highly effective communicator, Richard excels in aligning teams, mentoring executives, and fostering collaboration at all levels of an organization. His ability to convey complex operational concepts in an accessible manner has empowered leadership teams to drive meaningful and lasting change.