Former CEO of Rekor Systems and Senior Leader at American Express and Amazon Joins CEO Coaching International as Partner and Coach

MIAMI, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CEO Coaching International, the leading executive coaching firm for growth-focused CEOs and entrepreneurs globally, is pleased to announce David Desharnais as its newest Partner and Coach.

Desharnais is a veteran operator, entrepreneur, and technology executive with more than 25 years of experience leading companies through scale, transformation, and category creation across 20+ industries, including AI, cloud, SaaS, fintech, digital identity, telecom, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

He has built and led organizations at every stage of the journey - from startup and exit to turnaround and global scale. He has also served on more than a dozen public and private boards, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the largest privately held company in the United States.

Desharnais most recently served as the President & CEO of Rekor Systems, a publicly traded global leader in transportation and public safety, where he led a complete reinvention of the business, launching a new AI-driven platform, expanding into 90+ countries, building a global strategic partner network, and driving triple-digit CAGR growth, earning Rekor recognition as one of NASDAQ's fastest-growing technology companies.

Prior to Rekor, Desharnais held senior executive roles at some of the world's most respected enterprises:

• Group EVP & Chief Digital and Product Officer at IDEMIA, where he led 3,500+ employees and grew revenue 5x through digitalization of its automotive, financial services, identity, and biometrics business.
• Chief Marketing Officer for Industry Verticals at Amazon, where he built AWS's first global industry organization and helped drive $35 billion in growth across 20 verticals.
• SVP & General Manager at American Express, where he created and scaled the company's first global B2B digital banking and payments platform, delivering 483% revenue CAGR.

"David has lived the full CEO experience — the wins, the pressure, and the weight of responsibility that comes with leading at pace," said Randy Dewey, CEO of CEO Coaching International. "He knows what it takes to scale without losing focus or culture, and he'll be a tremendous resource for CEOs who are serious about growth."

"What drew me to CEO Coaching International is simple," said Desharnais. "I've lived with the weight of the CEO seat. I know the pressure to grow fast, make every call count, and hold it all together. Now, I help other CEOs do the same — create clarity, alignment, and results so growth feels inspiring, not overwhelming. My mission is to help leaders achieve exceptional performance without chaos, burnout, or losing the culture that makes success possible."

Originally from Canada, Desharnais has lived and worked across the U.S., France, and Germany, and now calls the Washington, D.C. area home. He actively serves on boards and national advisory councils focused on AI, infrastructure, and public-private innovation. He is also a strong supporter of the National MS Society, The ALS Association, and the American Diabetes Association.

Outside the boardroom, Desharnais is an avid endurance athlete, musician, and global traveler who draws inspiration from leadership, history, and the pursuit of what's possible.

To schedule a complimentary introduction call with David Desharnais or another one of the CEO Coaching International coaches, visit: https://ceocoachinginternational.com/coach/david-desharnais/

About CEO Coaching International

CEO Coaching International works with CEOs and their leadership teams to achieve extraordinary results quarter after quarter, year after year. Known globally for its success in coaching growth-focused entrepreneurs to meaningful exits, the firm has coached more than 1,500+ CEOs and entrepreneurs across 100+ industries and 60 countries. Its coaches—former CEOs, presidents, and executives—have led businesses ranging from startups to over $10 billion, driving double-digit sales and profit growth, many culminating in eight, nine, or ten-figure exits.

Companies that have worked with CEO Coaching International for two years or more have achieved an average revenue CAGR of 25.9%, nearly 3X the U.S. average, and an average EBITDA CAGR of 39.2%, more than 4X the national benchmark.

Discover how coaching can transform your leadership journey at ceocoachinginternational.com.

SOURCE CEO Coaching International