The Fertility Partners Names Heather Stark First Female CEO

TORONTO, ON – January 19, 2026 – The Fertility Partners (TFP), a leading network of fertility clinics across Canada, has appointed former Chief Financial Officer Heather Stark as its new Chief Executive Officer. The move, effective January 15, 2026, makes Stark the first female CEO in the company's history and signals a strategic pivot towards operational discipline and sustainable growth as the organization navigates a rapidly evolving healthcare sector.

A New Leader with Financial Acumen and Personal Insight

Stark's promotion from CFO to CEO is a clear indicator of the company's direction. Since joining TFP in 2025, she has been deeply involved in the network's operations, working alongside physicians and care teams to understand the intricate details of the patient journey. Her leadership is described as a "collaborative, people-first approach," focused on bolstering clinic performance and enhancing the patient experience.

Her background extends well beyond her recent tenure at TFP. Before joining the fertility network, Stark served as the Chief Financial Officer for WeightWatchers International. During her time there, she was a key figure in guiding the company through a period of significant industry change, including a major acquisition that expanded its telehealth services in the United States. This experience in managing a large, consumer-facing healthcare brand through transformation and digital expansion provides her with a unique toolkit for leading TFP. Her career also includes senior positions at Bacardi Canada and PricewaterhouseCoopers, grounding her leadership in robust financial strategy and corporate governance.

Adding a powerful layer to her professional qualifications is Stark's personal connection to the company's mission. As a parent to four children conceived through assisted reproduction, including two via in-vitro fertilization (IVF), she brings a profound, firsthand understanding of the patient experience. This dual perspective—as both a seasoned executive and a former patient—positions her to lead with a rare blend of financial discipline and deep empathy for the families TFP serves.

"I'm honoured to step into the role of CEO at such an important moment for the organization," Stark said in a statement. "TFP is built on exceptional clinics and remarkable people. Having seen firsthand the impact of fertility care, I understand how important access, quality and outcomes are."

Navigating Canada's Complex Fertility Landscape

Stark takes the helm at a pivotal time for the Canadian fertility market. The sector is experiencing robust growth, with market valuations projected to nearly double from approximately $1.5 billion in 2022 to over $2.7 billion by 2030. This expansion is driven by several societal trends, including an increasing number of individuals and couples delaying parenthood for career and financial reasons, alongside significant advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART).

However, this commercial growth exists in stark contrast to Canada's demographic reality. The nation's total fertility rate hit a record low of 1.33 children per woman in 2022, falling further to 1.26 in 2023, placing Canada among countries with the "lowest-low" fertility rates. This demographic pressure underscores the growing importance of and reliance on fertility services for family building.

Industry data from the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) highlights key trends within this landscape. There is a marked increase in the use of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos, a 90% rise in elective egg freezing cycles since 2013, and a growing use of third-party options like donor eggs and gestational carriers. These trends indicate a more technologically advanced and complex patient journey, requiring sophisticated operational support and consistent clinical quality—areas directly aligned with Stark's stated priorities.

A Strategy of Disciplined Growth and Integration

Founded in 2019, The Fertility Partners has pursued an aggressive growth strategy, rapidly becoming one of North America's largest fertility networks. Bolstered by a significant $90 million financing round in 2020 led by Peloton Capital Management, TFP has expanded to include 36 clinic locations and 14 IVF centers across six provinces as of late 2023.

The company's model is to partner with leading clinics—such as the Ottawa Fertility Centre, ReproMed, and Conceptia—and provide them with the infrastructure, capital, and operational support to grow. This allows clinical teams to focus on patient care while the central organization handles back-office functions and drives network-wide improvements.

Stark's appointment signals a refinement of this strategy. Her focus as CEO will be on "driving operational excellence across the network, strengthening performance consistency and ensuring clinics are well supported to deliver high-quality, accessible care." This suggests a move to deepen the integration of its existing network, standardizing best practices to improve both clinical outcomes and financial performance.

Dr. Andrew Meikle, Founder and Executive Chair of The Fertility Partners, endorsed this direction. "Heather's appointment reflects strong confidence in our company's future direction and strategic growth," he stated. "It signals fresh leadership poised to drive innovation, enhance clinical performance, and deliver value to stakeholders." Her mandate includes not only strengthening the network's foundation but also expanding capacity where needed, directly addressing the growing demand for fertility services across the country.

Continuity and Change in the Executive Suite

The leadership change represents both continuity and a strategic shift. Stark's promotion from within the company follows the tenure of Derek Larkin, who was appointed CEO in August 2023 after a distinguished career leading other major fertility networks in the U.S., including Boston IVF and First Fertility. The company thanked Larkin for his contributions, wishing him success in his future endeavors.

Stark's elevation from CFO to CEO is a classic move for a company entering a phase where operational efficiency and financial discipline are paramount for long-term, sustainable growth. Her deep familiarity with TFP's financial structure and clinic operations, gained over the past year, ensures a smooth transition and a continued focus on core objectives. Her vision is to create synergy between the clinical and business sides of the organization.

"My focus is on providing clarity and alignment so our teams can continue supporting patients and families," Stark emphasized. This commitment to alignment is crucial in a healthcare field where the quality of patient care is inextricably linked to the operational and financial health of the provider network. Under her leadership, The Fertility Partners aims to solidify its position not just as a large network, but as a benchmark for high-quality, accessible, and patient-centered reproductive medicine in Canada.