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At Protex AI, we believe that extraordinary companies are built by extraordinary people. As we look ahead to 2026, the difference between a good company and a great one lies in its safety culture, and the leaders who champion it.
We are thrilled to unveil our list of the Top 100 Safety & Operations Leaders to Watch in 2026.
These are the visionaries who are doing more than just "ticking the box" on compliance. They are the Safety Leaders reducing incident rates through proactive intervention, the Operations Directors optimizing throughput while protecting their people, and the Technology Innovators integrating AI to build smarter, safer workplaces.
The Top 100 List
(Presented in alphabetical order by surname)
Miguel Angel
EHS Director AMEA Region, Kellanova
Oversees the complex EHS strategy across Kellanova's vast AMEA region. He is responsible for translating Global EHS standards into effective, locally compliant programs across numerous manufacturing and distribution facilities.
John Barlew
Director, Security & Safety, Kenco
As VP of Safety at Kenco, he leads the design and execution of an enterprise-wide safety, health, security, and loss prevention strategy. He is recognized for driving the Kenco Operating System which consistently outperforms industry benchmarks.
Sean Bartholomew
Mill Manager, USG
A pivotal operational leader responsible for embedding the award-winning USG safety culture at the manufacturing site level. He drives continuous improvement initiatives to ensure zero-harm objectives are met in high-risk environments.
Timothy Belyea
Corporate EHS Manager, Munters
A leading EHS professional driving environmental stewardship and occupational safety. He is recognized for his focus on data-driven decision-making and proactive risk mitigation, translating corporate EHS goals into effective, compliant operational programs.
Nathan Berry
Corporate Director Safety, Cleveland Cliffs
A leading safety executive in the high-hazard steel and mining industry. He is driving the integration of digital transformation and AI into safety strategy, recognized for his leadership in advancing proactive, technology-focused risk mitigation.
Missy Bertrand
Director of Enterprise Safety, Best Buy
A strategic safety leader overseeing the diverse risk portfolio of a leading multinational retailer. She is responsible for driving proactive safety programs across retail, warehousing, logistics, and in-home services, ensuring a consistent safety-first culture.
Gladys Billups
Director of EHS, Southwire
A seasoned EHS leader known for cultural transformation. She leverages extensive experience across major industrial and manufacturing sectors to integrate safety as a core business value, developing rigorous EHS programs and leading capital safety projects.
Gabrielle Boldurian
Global EH&S, Ebay
Recognized for navigating the unique, complex safety landscape of a multinational e-commerce platform. She drives a holistic EHS and sustainability strategy, focusing on ergonomics, employee well-being, and integrating environmental stewardship.
John Boyle
Director of EHS, Kerry
Known for driving safety culture transformation at multinational food manufacturers. He is recognized for developing strategies for the globalization of Health & Safety and embedding it into business fabric through high-impact, short-format executive check-ins.
Joanne Brookes-Wright
Director EHS, DHL Express UK
Directs the high-stakes EHS strategy for a leading global express logistics provider. She is responsible for driving a proactive safety culture and risk management across DHL's vast UK operational footprint, ensuring world-class standards for thousands of staff.
Debra Brown
Head of Occupational Health and Safety, GEA
Leading the global OHS strategy for a major supplier to the food and pharma industries. She is recognized for establishing a centralized “One GEA” approach to OHS, focusing on cultural transformation and ensuring safe working environments.
Johannes Buchmann
International Occupational Health & Safety Manager, Siemens
Spearheads the strategic digital transformation of OHS across one of the world's most complex industrial organizations. He is a recognized leader in Safety 4.0, blending deep technical knowledge with business strategy to integrate digital systems.
Jim Campbell
Senior Director EHS, Cencora
Leads Cencora's EHS excellence built on data-driven strategies and employee engagement. He focuses on protecting people and business resilience by implementing proactive risk management tools like new EHS metrics dashboards.
Ed Casper
Global Head of EHS, Bendix
Instrumental in driving world-class safety performance and establishing a consistent global safety culture. He is recognized for leading Bendix to achieve a historic low Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR) through continuous improvement focused on risk reduction.
Martha Connell
VP, EHS & Sustainability, Parker Hannifin Corporation
A leader specializing in strategic EHS integration and enterprise-wide risk reduction. She is recognized for driving significant safety improvements through championing employee-driven ergonomics programs across Parker's 300+ global manufacturing sites.
Sarah Cuscadden
GM Health, Safety & Environment, AGL
Leading the EHS function for Australia's largest renewable energy generator, she is currently managing one of the most complex safety transitions in the sector. Her expertise centers on accelerating safety leadership and performance through engagement.
Vic D’Amato
Head of Safety, Health and Environment, AstraZeneca
As Head of SHE for Global Operations, he leads the strategic deployment of AstraZeneca’s Safety, Health and Environment vision across worldwide manufacturing and supply sites, owning core SHE business processes.
Crystal Danbury
Director of Group Safety, Insurance & Occupational Wellbeing, Sainsburys
A multi-sector safety leader driving the commercial value of proactive safety and wellbeing at a FTSE 100 retailer. She is recognized for developing the 'True Cost of Harm' approach to communicate safety priorities to executives.
Lucas Domingues
Founder, Shield 360
Recognized as a leading voice and strategist in Safety 4.0. As the Founder and CEO of Shield360, he empowers EHS leaders to move beyond compliance by developing human-centered strategies to integrate AI and smart technologies.
Devin Engel
Director of Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Compliance, O'Reilly Auto Parts
Manages the complex and diverse EHS and regulatory compliance landscape for a nationwide automotive parts retailer. He is recognized for leading high-volume safety programs across thousands of locations, specializing in hazardous materials management.
Arlene Farrar
Director of Product Stewardship, Abbott
Plays a critical leadership role in linking product lifecycle management with EHS and sustainability goals. She ensures that Abbott's products comply with complex global regulations, driving ingredient safety and environmental impact reduction.
Abby Ferry
Senior Leader, NSC
A highly influential safety executive at the NSC, she is instrumental in shaping the national agenda on workplace and community safety. She focuses on guiding organizations to adopt best practices for fatality prevention and risk mitigation.
Frankie Fuchs
VP of EHS, Finning Cat
A seasoned executive with over 25 years of success in global, high-risk sectors. He is recognized for his extensive hands-on experience in Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) prevention and for developing complex EHS management systems.
Michael Gardner
Director of Safety, XPO Logistics
A dynamic safety leader recognized for driving technological integration and operational efficiency. He is instrumental in championing the adoption of telematics and AI-powered safety platforms to transform raw data into actionable insights.
Cormac Gilligan
Global Head EHS, UPS
Oversees the massive, complex EHS and occupational health strategy for the global logistics leader. He is recognized for leading the design and deployment of innovative, data-driven programs, including the "Recharge" Heat Stress Prevention Program.
Joe Gilliland
Senior Director HSE, Sanofi
Brings over two decades of experience to his role overseeing HSE for the pharmaceutical giant. He is recognized for advocating a holistic EHS approach that emphasizes integration with facilities and quality control and a relentless focus on root cause analysis.
Damien Glasglow
Director EHS, Raw Materials Group, Nucor
Focuses on leading EHS strategy and culture across Nucor’s complex and high-risk Raw Materials Group. He is recognized for driving behavioral-based safety and human performance initiatives that target serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention.
Tay Grayson
Corporate EHS Manager, Genuine Parts (NAPA)
A highly experienced EHS leader who directs the proactive safety strategy for Genuine Parts Company. He is recognized for driving continuous improvement and a strong risk mitigation culture that integrates safety technology to ensure compliance.
Dan Grinnell
EHS Manager, Medtronic
Known as an EHS leader and AI-for-EHS champion who advocates for the transformation of safety practices using cutting-edge technology. He specializes in leveraging Artificial Intelligence to automate processes and integrate real-time data analytics.
Michael Grumley
EHS Manager, FedEx
Leads EHS initiatives for a global logistics and transportation giant. He is recognized as a subject matter expert in implementing OHS management systems that prevent incidents and foster a proactive, continuous improvement culture.
Gary Hale
TNA Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Manager, Toyo Tires
Oversees comprehensive risk management across EHS and Security. He drives a safety-first culture in a complex manufacturing environment by implementing rigorous process safety standards, advanced training, and waste-reduction initiatives.
Mark Harrington
Global VP of EHS, BrandSafway
A 30-year veteran of EHS leadership who expertly manages global, dispersed workforces. He is a subject matter expert in field services who drives improvements by strengthening functional structure and process, aligning EHS with performance, and promoting a culture of continuous safety improvement.
Arianna Howard
Product & GTM Advisor for EHS Tech // Co-Founder, Syncra Group
A key leader in EHS digital transformation. She expertly bridges the gap between EHS and IT by helping organizations build people-centered safety systems that align with real-world operations, ensuring technology delivers meaningful safety and business impact.
Marcel Jaworski
Deputy Director, Hyundai-Brasil
Oversees the multi-faceted EHS, Facilities, and Employee Relations strategy for Hyundai-Brasil. He is instrumental in driving EHS excellence as a foundational management priority, ensuring strict adherence to Global Safety Standards.
Peter Jenkins
Country Manager, EcoPortal
An expert in digital EHS transformation and the strategic implementation of safety frameworks. He is instrumental in helping organizations, particularly those with complex risk profiles like large retailers, to move beyond compliance by leveraging software solutions.
Vibeke From Jeppesen
QEHS Director for Global Product Safety and Global Logistics, Arla Foods
A world-class authority on integrating Food Safety Culture with Operational Safety across a massive global supply chain. She drives the "ONE Direction" strategy at Arla Foods, ensuring product safety excellence and risk mitigation standards.
Adam Johnson
Vice President of Safety, Knight-Swift Transportation
Focuses on leading safety across one of North America's largest and most diversified truckload carriers. He directs high-impact programs focusing on driver behavior, distracted driving avoidance, and fatigue management.
Dana Johnson
Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Sysco Canada
Utilizes a rare combination of advanced certifications to lead EHS strategy for Sysco Canada. She drives a highly certified, robust safety and compliance program, specializing in complex risk mitigation across high-volume food distribution and logistics.
Harold V Jones
Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President, Eaton
Oversees the strategic integration of EHS with corporate sustainability and the entire operating system. He leads Eaton's 2030 sustainability targets and ensures Quality, EHS, and Continuous Improvement are standardized and embedded across nearly 100,000 employees.
Mauryo Jones
VP, Safety, Health and Security, Ryder
A leader in proactive, data-driven safety for Ryder Transport. She spearheads the use of leading indicators over lagging metrics, utilizing vehicle safety technology and strategic analytics to predict future trends and drive continuous improvement.
Mike Jones
Corporate EHS Manager, USG
An EHS leader driving the award-winning safety culture at USG Corporation. He directs EHS strategy across global manufacturing, focusing on reinforcing the company's Safety Tenets and proactive engagement to maintain a zero-harm objective.
Boris Kiprovski
Senior EHS Director, Skanska
Known for seamlessly translating military leadership values into high-risk construction safety management. He is recognized for pioneering scalable, high-impact programs like the refreshed Delivery Driver Program and for collaborating with universities.
Matt Law
Director, NSC
A recognized voice and strategist in developing the business case for EHS. He focuses on creating comprehensive customer safety strategies that mitigate risk to people and property, leveraging expertise as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
Lisette Lozado
Corporate EHS Manager LATAM, Newell Brands
Leads the comprehensive EHS strategy across diverse Latin America operations. She is recognized for driving cultural consistency and operational compliance across the region, focusing on translating global EHS standards into effective, localized programs.
Jules Miller Martin
Vice President of Safety, Swift
Focuses on leading the safety strategy for Swift. This VP drives high-impact programs centered on driver behavior and fatigue management, leveraging advanced telematics and in-cab safety technology to achieve measurable accident reduction.
Maureen Mazurek
Chief Sustainability and EHS Officer, Becton, Dickinson and Co
Leads the integration of EHS and global sustainability at the medical technology giant. She is recognized for establishing the Sustainable Medical Technology Institute and aligning EHS with the core mission of advancing a healthier world.
David McCabe
Executive Director of Health, Safety & Sustainability, Textron Inc
Leads the holistic strategy for EHS and corporate sustainability across a diversified multi-industry conglomerate. He drives health and safety performance improvements across Textron's powerful brands, ensuring regulatory excellence.
Mathew Medjeral
Global Head of EHS Performance & Improvement, Airbus
Heads the global EHS Performance & Improvement strategy for the aerospace giant. He is recognized for championing massive employee engagement programs and leveraging data and project management to optimize operational safety.
Jake Moffat
Group Director of HSEQ, Wolseley
Directs EHS strategy and compliance across a vast national discount retail and distribution network. He manages risks in a high-volume, dynamic environment, focusing on protecting both employees and customers in the supply chain.
Allison Montgomery
VP of EHS, Applied Materials
Drives a systematic, data-driven safety culture. She leverages her expertise in ISO 45001 and U.S. Marine Corps experience to integrate EHS seamlessly into global operations, focusing on human performance and proactive safety systems.
Brandon Muse
GM, Toyotoa Tsusho
As a General Manager within Toyota Tsusho, he plays a critical role in deploying the "Toyota Tsusho Global Safety Standard" across complex operations. He ensures the adoption of advanced risk mitigation tools, such as the Practical Safety Workshop.
Bekkay NAHRI
Head of EHS & Disability, SEPHORA
Recognized for leading the integration of EHS and corporate disability policy in the retail environment. He drives a holistic employee approach, ensuring operational safety standards are met while strategically supporting disability inclusion.
Mwangi Ndonga
Senior Regional Manager, EHS, Ball
Recognized as an advanced safety leader specializing in Industrial Hygiene (IH) and EHS technology integration. He drives programs across Ball Corporation focusing on leveraging AI tools to enhance risk management using large data sets.
Trevor Newman
General Manager UK & Regional Manufacturing Director, DSM-Firmenich
Drives safety culture and performance by focusing on the link between employee well-being and operational results. He led a workforce transformation that dramatically reduced turnover while implementing enhanced occupational health support.
Larry Newport
Senior Director of Safety, Matthews International
An accomplished EHS professional (CIH, CSP, CPM) who leads the global safety and risk strategy for a diversified industrial corporation. He is responsible for managing EHS systems and business risk across Matthews International's approximately 300 sites.
Chris Newson
Health & Safety Director, MakeUK
An influential voice and chartered safety professional leading the EHS agenda for the UK manufacturing sector. He is recognized for his role at Make UK, where he drives policy advocacy, consultancy, and thought leadership.
Jenny Novoa
Sr. Director of Risk Management & Safety, Gap Inc
A leader who expertly unifies safety with enterprise risk management (ERM) and financial risk. She is recognized for proactively managing complex exposures across global retail, supply chain, and claims, including leading C-suite tabletop exercises.
Pramod Palat
Vice President, EHS & Facilities, AGCO
Instrumental in driving AGCO's global sustainability strategy and safety transformation. He is recognized for leading the company to achieve the best safety results in its history in 2023, delivering a double-digit improvement in the Total Case Incident Rate.
Fabrizio Paletta
Head EHS EU, Bridgestone
Recognized as a champion of safety culture transformation and cross-industry best practice sharing. He drives Bridgestone's EHS agenda across Europe, successfully evolving the focus from compliance to commitment.
Robert Pitulej
Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Dollar Tree
A dedicated leader overseeing EHS programs across a vast national retail and distribution network. He drives consistent safety compliance and risk mitigation within a high-volume, dynamic operating environment, focusing on protecting both employees and customers.
Natasha Porter
Chief Customer Officer, Benchmark Gensuite
A key executive who drives scalable EHS success for hundreds of global companies through technology. She is instrumental in linking customer needs with the development of EHS software solutions, focusing on digital adoption and measurable compliance outcomes.
Tom Provost
Director of EHS, Ace Hardware
Leads the comprehensive EHS strategy for a massive retail cooperative. He drives safety culture and compliance across a complex organization involving distribution centers and corporate facilities, ensuring consistent risk mitigation.
Ali Qadirian
Senior Director, Health, Safety and Environment, Sanofi
A strategic EHS leader driving safety culture transformation within a global pharmaceutical organization. He is instrumental in implementing the "Leading Safety" program, which utilizes five positive performance drivers to foster collective accountability.
Dionne Quiachon
GVP, Lippert Components
Leading the global EHS strategy for Lippert Components, she brings over 30 years of transformative safety leadership. She is recognized for fostering a world-class safety culture and achieving substantial reductions in safety metrics.
Rassie Ras
Site EHS Leader, FMI
A highly focused EHS leader who drives operational excellence and a zero-harm mindset at the facility level. He is responsible for managing daily high-risk activities, leveraging proactive risk controls and human-centered training to maintain compliance.
Andrew Saff
Director, Environmental Health & Safety, Ahold Delhaize
Leading the EHS strategy for a massive global food retailer. He oversees the core principle of “Care” for the organization's “Thriving People” priority, driving lost-day injury reduction year-on-year and mitigating serious injuries.
Carlos Sansevero
Global Director, Environmental Health & Safety, Jacobs Douwe
A strategic EHS leader driving global safety culture and sustainability across the coffee industry. He directs enterprise-wide risk mitigation and compliance programs, focusing on process safety management in manufacturing and supply chain operations.
Christopher Sayers
AI Applied Senior Manager, Verdantix
Recognized as a leading EHS analyst and researcher specializing in the integration of AI into enterprise safety. He leverages a background in engineering and machine learning to direct Verdantix’s research on AI market trends.
Marc Scripps
Global EHS Director, Mobility Group, Eaton
Leading the Global EHS strategy for Eaton's complex Mobility Group. He is recognized for driving a zero-incident safety culture by implementing a systems-based approach that emphasizes proactive risk controls and management.
Prakash Senghani
CEO, Navatech
A recognized Digital Construction Safety Expert who advocates for using Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital tools to revolutionize construction safety by integrating risk information from design through handover.
Brad Sheehan
Senior Vice President, Safety and Security, Delta Airlines
Recognized as a veteran aviation safety leader with over 25 years of industry experience. He is instrumental in driving Delta’s FAA-approved Safety Management System (SMS), leading the integration of safety and security with flight standards.
Mike Sheppard
Global Ergonomics Manager, 3M
Leads the design and execution of a world-class ergonomics strategy across 3M’s global operations. He is recognized for driving proactive injury reduction by integrating ergonomic principles into R&D and manufacturing processes.
Aaron Silva
Director EHS Americas, DHL Global Forwarding
Oversees the complex EHS strategy across DHL Global Forwarding's entire Americas region. He is instrumental in driving EHS governance and operational excellence across a massive network of freight operations.
Brett Slotka
Director North America H&S, GM
Leads the comprehensive H&S strategy across all North American General Motors manufacturing and assembly plants. He directs safety and compliance for a massive, unionized workforce, focusing on risk mitigation during the transition to EV production.
Carole Smets
Global Social Sustainability Lead, Health & Safety and Human Rights, Pernod Ricard
A holistic leader driving the integration of safety and human rights into social sustainability. She champions the 'Be the one' safety culture initiative, ensuring best-in-class standards and human capital protection across the global supply chain.
Malcolm Staves
Global Vice President Health & Safety, L'Oreal
A futuristic thought leader known for globalizing safety culture and integrating OHS into the broader Human Capital and ESG agendas. He is recognized for developing the "Safe@Work-Safe@Home" initiative and the "Visible Felt Leadership" strategy at L'Oréal.
Cameron Stevens
Founder, PKG Safety Innovation
An internationally recognized technologist and Chartered Safety Professional, Cameron Stevens is a key figure in digital safety transformation. He advises high-risk global industries on the ethical and human-centered integration of emerging technologies (AI, wearables).
Marcus Stoneham
Director Safety - Europe & APAC, Expeditors
Oversees the integrated safety and security strategy for Expeditors across Europe and Asia-Pacific. He is recognized for implementing Safety Standards that encompass personnel security and compliance across a non-asset-based logistics model.
Megan Stowe
Senior Global Director, EHS, Sustainability, Transportation and Procurement, Neovia
A highly strategic executive recognized for integrating EHS, Sustainability, and Procurement to drive responsible supply chain transformation. She leverages decades of experience to embed ESG and social responsibility into core business practices.
Marlon Sylvester
GBS HSE Director, P&G
Oversees the HSE strategy for P&G's Global Business Services. He is responsible for managing the diverse HSE risks across IT, finance, purchasing, and shared services infrastructure, ensuring consistent global compliance.
Darren Thain
Director EHS, Compleatfood
A dynamic EHS leader recognized for his rapid rise and cross-sector safety experience. As the Compleat Food Group's first Director of Health, Safety and Environment, he is responsible for aligning the HSE strategy with the company's vision.
Kevin Thomas
VP of Global Safety, Sysco
Recognized for driving Sysco’s safety success through the strategic adoption of safety technology and AI. He leverages more than three decades of experience to enhance proactive risk management ensuring continuous improvement.
Peter Thomas
CRO, Intuety
At Intuety, he is a central figure in the adoption of AI-driven risk assessment and method statements (RAMS) in high-hazard sectors. He leads the development of AI tools that leverage data to objectively score and improve the quality of risk assessments.
Matthew Vander
Global Head EHS, Henkel
He plays a key role in driving the company's comprehensive 2030+ Sustainability Ambition. He is instrumental in ensuring EHS standards align with the "Trusted Partner" pillar, focusing on performance, product safety, and regulatory compliance across global production sites.
Jimmy Vassilopoulus
National Director, Health and Safety, Purolator Inc.
Leads Purolator's health and safety transformation, driving a record year in safety metrics. He is a champion of Behaviour Based Safety and leverages technology, including AI, to proactively control risk in high-volume logistics.
Michael Walker
Senior Director, Global SHEQ, Linde
A key executive driving world-class safety, health, and quality standards. He oversees the integration of SHEQ across a vast global footprint, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence in high-hazard sectors through strategic leadership.
John Whitaker
Senior Manager Strategy and Planning, Toyota Safety
Leads the high-level safety strategy and planning for a global automotive manufacturing leader. He is instrumental in ensuring Toyota’s world-renowned safety culture is maintained through proactive strategy development and aligning worker safety protocols.
Tony Whittaker
Head Of Safety Health & Environment, Howdens
Leads the comprehensive SHE strategy across Howdens. He is recognized for driving cultural consistency and proactive compliance throughout the company's vertically integrated supply chain, specializing in the implementation of data-driven EHS management systems.
Steff Williams
EHS Director, EMEA, Sonoco
Directs safety for a global packaging leader, overseeing EHS across 25,000 employees and 300+ sites. He is recognized for his people-first approach and deep-rooted drive to prevent Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs).
Brian Winter
Director, Environment Health Safety, Advanced Drainage Systems
Leading the EHS strategy for a major manufacturing leader in sustainable water management. He is focused on ensuring operational excellence and injury prevention across 70 manufacturing facilities, specializing in automating high-risk processes.
Leading the Future of Safety and Operations in 2026
These 100 leaders serve as a powerful reminder that safety and operational excellence are not competing goals, they are two sides of the same coin.
Whether they are Safety Leaders driving culture or Operations Leaders optimizing throughput, these visionaries understand that a safe facility is a productive facility. They are the "Bar Raisers" and "Problem Solvers" who refuse to accept the status quo, proving that protecting people and protecting the bottom line go hand-in-hand.
At Protex AI, we are committed to supporting leaders like these with the intelligent tools they need to make the invisible visible. By shifting from reactive reporting to proactive prevention, we help teams reduce risk, minimize downtime, and build the smarter industrial workplaces of the future.
Are you ready to join the movement?
Connect with us to see how AI is empowering the next generation of safety and operations leaders for 2026.
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