Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited is adding Tara Deakin, formerly Chief People Officer at Spin Master, to its executive team as Chief People Officer. This leadership appointment supports Xanadu’s plans to scale operations while it pursues the development of a utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer. Current Chief People Officer Rebecca Laramée will transition to the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Human Resources, partnering with Deakin to lead workforce initiatives. “Tara is an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Dr. Christian Weedbrook, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xanadu.

Tara Deakin Appointed Chief People Officer for Growth

This leadership change with incoming Chief People Officer Tara Deakin signals a deliberate strategy to maintain momentum as the company pursues ambitious growth objectives. The planned transition, announced on September 22, 2026, demonstrates commitment to a smooth leadership shift while expanding its workforce, Xanadu says. During her tenure at Spin Master, she guided the organization through global expansion and diversification, building leadership capabilities and adapting organizational structures to support sustained growth.

This background will be critical as Xanadu aims to build a utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer, a goal requiring a substantial increase in specialized personnel and a robust organizational framework. Deakin also previously held executive leadership roles at TD Bank Group, Citi and Rogers Communications, further broadening her experience in scaling complex enterprises.

Tara Deakin as Chief People Officer to lead. Dr. Weedbrook stated, “As we continue towards our vision of building a utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer, her extensive experience in global enterprise transformation, leadership effectiveness, and aligning human capital with business strategy will be invaluable in scaling our organization with discipline and purpose.” This emphasis on human capital aligns with the company’s stated objective of making quantum computing accessible and useful, requiring a diverse and skilled workforce to drive innovation and deployment.

Deakin herself expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating that Xanadu is “building something truly extraordinary, and I’m excited to join at such an important point in the company’s evolution.” She further elaborated, “I look forward to partnering with Christian, Rebecca, and the broader team to build the organizational and leadership capabilities that will support the next stage of growth and advance the company’s mission to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere.” Her commitment to collaboration with existing leadership suggests a focus on building upon established strengths while implementing new strategies for workforce development.

Alongside the leadership change, disclosures regarding Dr. Weedbrook’s stock transactions reveal a sale of 4,600,000 Class B Subordinate Voting Shares and a corresponding conversion of 4,600,000 Class A Multiple Voting Shares on September 22, 2026.

The sale generated approximately C$32,831,120.00 in gross proceeds and was undertaken for personal financial planning purposes, according to the company. Following the transactions, Dr. Weedbrook retains significant ownership in both classes of shares, representing approximately 25.06% of total voting power. These financial details, while separate from the personnel announcement, provide a broader context of activity within the leadership structure.