Tom Teahen has been appointed chief executive officer of the Law Society of Ontario, effective February 23, 2026, the organization announced through its treasurer, Peter C. Wardle.
Teahen brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across government, the broader public sector and highly regulated industries. For insurance professionals, his most notable prior role was as president and CEO of Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), a public agency providing wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to individuals sustaining work-related injuries or illnesses.
For the past five years, Teahen has worked in the private sector as a senior executive at Greenfield Global, a multinational renewable fuels and ethanol producer. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in government including chief of staff to the premier of Ontario, where he advanced policy and operational reforms.
Wardle said Teahen’s “depth of experience in governance, operational excellence and stakeholder engagement” makes him “exceptionally well-positioned” to lead the Law Society “as it continues to shape the future of legal regulation and strengthen public confidence.” Wardle added that Teahen’s leadership is defined by “service excellence, accountability and principled, transparent decision-making.”
Teahen succeeds acting chief executive officer Priya Bhatia, who led the organization during a transition period. The appointment followed a recruitment process led by the Law Society’s Chief Executive Officer Selection Committee, which recommended Teahen to the organisation’s board of directors.
In his new role, Teahen will lead approximately 550 staff and oversee the Law Society’s operations, strategic priorities and key initiatives aimed at ensuring lawyers and paralegals meet high standards of learning, competence and professional conduct.
“It is an honour to be appointed chief executive officer of the Law Society of Ontario,” Teahen said. “The privilege of professional self-regulation depends on public trust, transparency and a clear focus on the public interest. I look forward to working with Convocation, employees and stakeholders to strengthen governance, support the professions and ensure the Law Society continues to serve the people of Ontario with integrity, fairness and accountability.”
