As Mercedes Textiles approaches 50 years of serving the fire service, we are pleased to announce an important leadership transition.
After 33 years as President, Bob Richardson is passing the helm of Mercedes Textiles to Stéphane Thibault, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the company.
Over the coming years, Bob will work closely with Stéphane to ensure a seamless transition while continuing to share the knowledge, relationships, and values that have helped shape Mercedes into the company it is today. Allan Macrae, whose decades of sales leadership have been instrumental to the company's growth and success, will also play an important role in supporting this transition.
Together, Bob and Allan – along with a strong team – have helped guide Mercedes through a remarkable period of growth. Since joining the company in the early 1990s, they have played a pivotal role in transforming Mercedes Textiles from a respected Canadian manufacturer into a globally recognized leader in fire hose, portable pumps, couplings, and water delivery solutions serving municipal, wildland, industrial, military, and specialty firefighting organizations around the world.
Their leadership helped establish the reputation for quality, innovation, and customer service that has defined Mercedes Textiles since its founding in 1978.
Welcoming Stéphane Thibault
Mercedes Textiles is proud to welcome Stéphane Thibault as President.
Stéphane brings more than three decades of leadership experience within the fire service industry. For the past 34 years, he has served as President of CET Fire Pumps, helping build one of North America's leading manufacturers of portable fire pumps, foam systems, skid units, and specialized firefighting equipment.
His experience extends beyond manufacturing. As a member of the Thibault family, whose involvement in the fire service industry spans generations, Stéphane has spent a lifetime working alongside firefighters and emergency responders, helping develop equipment designed to meet the challenges they face every day.
His deep understanding of firefighting operations, customer needs, product development, and manufacturing excellence makes him uniquely positioned to lead Mercedes into its next chapter.
Stronger Together Under Leader Group
This leadership transition comes at an exciting time for Mercedes Textiles as the company joins the Leader Group family alongside CET and other respected firefighting brands.
Leader Group brings together specialized companies dedicated to a common mission: we make innovative products that help protect and save lives.
Through its growing international portfolio of firefighting and rescue brands, Leader Group continues to invest in manufacturing expertise, product innovation, and customer-focused solutions across global markets.
For Mercedes Textiles customers, this integration represents opportunity.
By combining the strengths of Mercedes Textiles, CET, and the broader Leader Group organization, we are better positioned than ever to support firefighters across North America and around the world. Together, we gain access to expanded manufacturing capabilities, broader technical expertise, enhanced product development resources, and stronger global market reach.
Just as importantly, the values that have defined Mercedes Textiles for nearly 50 years remain unchanged.
Our commitment to quality, innovation, reliability, and customer service continues to guide every product we manufacture and every relationship we build.
Looking Ahead
Leadership transitions are important moments in the life of any organization. They provide an opportunity to reflect on what has been built while looking ahead to what comes next.
Mercedes Textiles was founded in 1978 with a commitment to innovate, engineer and build water-delivery products firefighters can depend on. Over nearly five decades, that commitment has helped establish the company as a trusted partner to departments and agencies around the world.
Today, thanks to the foundation built by Bob Richardson, Allan Macrae, and the entire Mercedes team, the company is stronger than ever.
With Stéphane Thibault assuming leadership and the support of the Leader Group family behind us, Mercedes Textiles is exceptionally well positioned for continued growth, innovation, and service to the fire industry.
While much has changed since 1978, our purpose remains the same: delivering dependable solutions that help firefighters move water, protect communities, and get the job done safely and effectively.
The future of Mercedes Textiles is bright, and we are excited for the journey ahead.