Posted on October 19, 2026
St. John’s Dockyard, Newdock, today announced the appointment of Jared Newcombe as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 13th, 2026, bringing more than three decades of Canadian shipbuilding, ship repair and executive leadership experience to the company as it enters a significant period of growth and investment.
The appointment reflects Newdock’s continued evolution as the company strengthens its leadership structure to support existing operations, future growth and its longer-term strategic priorities. The newly created CEO role will provide dedicated executive leadership as Newdock builds on its established ship repair business and advances the next phase of the company’s development.
Over the past decade, Newcombe has held senior executive leadership roles at major Canadian shipyards, including serving as CEO and COO at Davie and as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Ontario Shipyards. He has led businesses through periods of growth, operational change and increasing demand from government and commercial customers. His experience spans the full range of executive leadership, including setting strategy, driving business performance, overseeing major vessel programs and positioning organizations for long-term growth.
Across his career, Newcombe has combined commercial discipline with a strong understanding of shipyard operations and program execution. He has led complex businesses, worked extensively with government and commercial customers, and helped position Canadian shipyards for new opportunities in construction, repair, refit and vessel life extension.
Newcombe joins Newdock at a pivotal point in the company’s development.
Newdock Shipyards, located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is majority-owned by Qalipu First Nation and Membertou, together with Horizon Naval Engineering. The shipyard has operated for more than a century and provides ship repair, refit, maintenance and marine services to government and commercial customers.
Newdock is also advancing Project Oqwatn, a major expansion of its St. John’s operations that will increase the yard’s capacity and capability to support growing demand across Canada’s government and commercial marine sectors. The project includes a proposed 42,000t x 175M shiplift with up to 4 heavy lift berths and expanded supporting infrastructure. The project is progressing through engineering, environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement.
“Jared brings deep experience in leading complex shipbuilding and ship repair businesses in Canada,” said Sean Leet, Managing Director, Newdock. “He understands the industry, the customers and what it takes to grow a shipyard while maintaining focus on execution. Adding his experience and major shipyard leadership capabilities to our existing team is important as Newdock enters its next phase.”
“We are very pleased to welcome Jared Newcombe as the new CEO of Newdock,” said Chief Jenny Brake of Qalipu First Nation. “Jared has already made a strong impression through his work with Project Oqwatn, and we are pleased to see him stepping into this leadership role. He brings a strong understanding of the marine industry and a clear appreciation for the importance of collaboration and strong relationships. “We are looking forward to seeing Jared bring his knowledge and perspective to Newdock and to working together as the company continues to grow. We wish him every success as he begins this new chapter.”
“We proudly welcome Jared Newcombe to Newdock as Chief Executive Officer,” said Chief Terry Paul of Membertou. “With more than 30 years of marine and shipbuilding experience, he brings the expertise and leadership needed to help chart Newdock’s next chapter. “We have a strong team, a proud history and tremendous opportunity ahead. We look forward to working together to build on that foundation and take Newdock to new depths.”
Newcombe said the opportunity to lead Newdock comes at an important time for both the company and Canada’s marine industry. “Newdock has operated from St. John’s for more than a century and has built a strong reputation based on its people, its capabilities and its ability to deliver for customers,” said Newcombe. “The opportunity now is to build on that foundation.
“Canada is facing growing demand for dry-docking capacity as government and commercial fleets require increasingly significant repair, refit, maintenance and lifecycle support. Newdock’s expansion through Project Oqwatn will position the company to address that demand, while creating long-term employment, developing skills and strengthening marine industrial capacity here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Newcombe emphasized that the immediate priority will remain the performance of Newdock’s existing business, built through the hard work and dedication of its people and leadership team, while the company continues to advance its longer-term plans. “Growth only works when the underlying business remains strong. Newdock has built that strength through the hard work and dedication of its people and leadership team, and my focus will be on carrying that foundation forward through a continued commitment to safety, execution and our customers while, in parallel, advancing Oqwatn and preparing Newdock for the opportunities ahead.”
About Newdock – St. John’s Dockyard
Newdock – St. John’s Dockyard is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based ship repair and marine services company located in the Port of St. John’s. Majority-owned by Qalipu First Nation and Membertou, together with Horizon Naval Engineering, the company provides repair, refit, maintenance and technical services to government and commercial marine customers.
Website: https://newdock.nf.ca/.
