WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Paul Soubry, who helped turn NFI Group Inc. from a domestic bus builder into a global transit manufacturer, will step down as chief executive at the end of the year, the company said Wednesday, with aerospace executive John Sapp named as his successor.
Sapp, who will become president and CEO effective Jan. 1, will be based at NFI’s headquarters in Winnipeg. He succeeds Soubry, who has spent 16 years with the company.
“John brings a strong track record of success in complex manufacturing and aftermarket services,” board chair Colin Robertson said. “The board has full confidence in his ability to lead NFI at this pivotal time.”
Sapp joins NFI from Eaton Corp., where he has served since 2023 as president of the company’s aerospace division. He led a global workforce of more than 12,000 employees and oversaw record revenue and operating profits in 2025.
Before Eaton, Sapp held multiple senior leadership roles at Collins Aerospace, including vice president and general manager, and earlier spent more than 11 years at GE Aviation in sales and commercial programs. He also served in the U.S. Air Force as an F-15 fighter pilot and later as an instructor at the Air Force Fighter Weapons School.
Sapp is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds a master’s degree in business administration from New York University.
His appointment follows a global search overseen by NFI’s board of directors, the company said.
Soubry led expansion
“I am honored to join NFI Group at a time when the company plays an important role in the daily lives of millions of people around the world,” Sapp said. He said his focus will be on improving operational performance, enhancing the customer experience and driving growth.
Soubry joined NFI in 2009 and led its transformation into a global manufacturer serving transit agencies and operators in North America, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. During his tenure, the company expanded into new markets and strengthened its position in low- and zero-emission transportation technology.
“It has been a privilege to lead NFI over the past 16 years,” Soubry said, noting that the company grew into a global player with a $13 billion order backlog.
Soubry will step down from NFI’s board on Jan. 1, when Sapp joins the board. Soubry will remain in an advisory role for up to a year to support the transition.
NFI Group employs more than 9,000 people in 10 countries and manufactures buses and coaches under brands that include New Flyer, MCI, Alexander Dennis, ARBOC and NFI Parts. The company’s shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI.
