Busy Bees North America today announces a planned leadership transition, with Chief Executive Mary Ann Curran to be succeeded after more than a decade of leadership by Darla Kestle, with effect September 2025.
Mary Ann has been the driving force behind the creation of Busy Bees North America, leading the expansion of the BrightPath brand and the group's other brands across Canada and the United States. During her tenure, BrightPath’s presence as a leader early childhood education in Canada has been built on, to be a network that now serves families across North America, with more than 10,000 licensed childcare spaces in 84 sites across Canada, and more than 25,000 licensed childcare spaces in 157 sites in the US.
Following her thirteen years of unwavering commitment, Mary Ann will now be handing over leadership of the business to her successor, Darla Kestle. Darla is a highly experienced executive with a background in early years education, senior living and fitness. Her previous roles include serving as Chief Operating Officer at Impact Fitness, Vice President of Corporate Operations at Holiday Retirement and a Senior Director at Knowledge Universe (now KinderCare Education).
Mary Ann and Darla will undertake a planned handover, with Darla joining the business on 4th August 2025 to begin her induction into the business, before succeeding Mary Ann as Chief Executive on 18th September 2025.
To further support the transition, Mary Ann will remain with the group as a Senior Advisor to Peter Gowers, the Group Chief Executive of the Busy Bees Group worldwide, until the end of 2025.
Peter Gowers, Group Chief Executive of the Busy Bees Group commented:
“Busy Bees North America has been transformed under Mary Ann's leadership over more than a decade. She will leave her successor a wonderful legacy with a passionate, committed team and deep presence across the continent. On behalf of the Busy Bees Board, we would like to thank her for all her service, and we wish her all success for the years ahead following her handover. In Darla, we will have a worthy successor who will continue to foster the commitment to educational and operational excellence that Mary Ann has instilled in the team."
Mary Ann Curran commented:
"I am very proud of what we have accomplished and even more proud of what we are. Each member of the Busy Bees North America team is part of an organization that puts the well-being and development of an ever-growing number of children entrusted to us first. My contribution to that is a legacy that I will cherish as I move on to live other passions. In leading this organization, I was guided by purpose, and I will depart with pride."
Darla Kestle said
“I am honoured to be joining the team at Busy Bees North America and to lead the next chapter in its growth journey. I am looking forward to getting to know the parents, children and team in our communities, and to working with Mary Ann during the transition."
Busy Bees warmly welcomes Darla Kestle to the business.