Global Executive Search for a No-Code Design Unicorn
In 2022, MitchelLake partnered with Canva, the world’s leading no-code design platform, to complete a global executive search for Canva as the company continued its rapid international expansion. The mandate was to appoint a Sydney-based Divisional General Manager, a role critical to scaling Canva’s operations while maintaining its culture of innovation and customer-first design.
For a company already recognised as a unicorn and one of Australia’s most valuable startups, identifying the right leadership talent was essential. Canva needed an experienced operator with a deep understanding of SaaS, global marketplaces, and high-growth technology ventures to lead at scale.
Appointment & Impact
MitchelLake’s executive search process combined global outreach with targeted market mapping across SaaS, online software, and no-code platforms. By aligning with Canva’s vision and values, we identified and appointed a senior executive with the leadership, commercial acumen, and people-first approach required to guide Canva through its next growth chapter.
This case study demonstrates how executive search for SaaS unicorns like Canva ensures the right leadership is in place to support expansion, innovation, and the ongoing transformation of design technology worldwide.
About Canva
Canva launched in 2013 with a mission to democratise design. Before Canva, creating professional-quality graphics required expensive software, advanced skills, and complex workflows. Today, Canva is used by over 185 million people in 190+ countries, generating over 20 billion designs annually.
The platform includes a powerful suite of features:
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Drag-and-drop no-code design tools.
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A marketplace of free and premium fonts, stock photos, and templates.
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Brand Kits for design consistency across teams.
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Collaboration tools for workplaces and classrooms.
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A global print service for professional output.
Canva’s evolution from startup to global design unicorn showcases the transformative power of no-code tools in SaaS and online marketplaces.
Partner With MitchelLake
MitchelLake has delivered leadership for some of the most successful ventures in software, SaaS, and no-code platforms. Whether it’s executive search for global SaaS Unicorns, or scaling online marketplaces, our expertise ensures companies can secure world-class leadership talent.
👉 Contact us to learn more about our experience in executive search for online software, SaaS, no-code design ventures, and global technology marketplaces.
The market for this leadership
Live MitchelLake intelligence across this sector and Oceania.
More leadership we placed at Canva
Latest signals — Canva
Partnership · Oceania
Canva →Canva announced partnership with Google Gemini to integrate its design platform, completing integrations with all major AI players (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini)
Partnership · Asia
Canva →Canva partnered with Andhra Pradesh government to provide visual communication tools for government school students
Capital Raising · Oceania
Canva →Robinhood Ventures Fund invested $25M in Canva as part of a broader AI-powered tech investment strategy
Product Launch · Oceania
Canva →Canva has made AI a core business focus with recent launch of Canva AI 2.0, a conversational design platform. Company is actively implementing AI Discovery Week and fostering AI experimentation culture among employees
Partnership · Americas
Canva →Canva has taken a significant shareholding position in Sharon AI (a neocloud infrastructure firm), as disclosed in SEC filings. This represents part of Canva's broader AI-focused investment strategy.
Geographic Expansion · Asia
Canva →Canva established a strategic partnership with Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC) to expand digital and AI skills education across Vietnam. Key initiatives include free Canva for Education accounts for K-12 schools nationwide, training for 30,000 teachers, national webinars, and a creative competition.
Adjacent signals across Oceania
Product Launch · Oceania
Progress Software →Progress Software has launched ShareFile Enterprise, a document collaboration offering aimed at large and regulated organisations, allowing them to scale sensitive document sharing from one platform.
M&A Activity · Oceania
RAS Technology →Takeover activity around ASX-listed RAS Technology (ASX:RTH), with PA Media apparently the party behind the approach.
M&A Activity · Oceania
AustralianSuper →AustralianSuper increased its investment in Perth Airport by acquiring two co-investors' stakes, bringing its holding to around 29.4%.
Partnership · Oceania
Serendata →Serendata, the technology platform arm of New Zealand-founded Sysdoc, has secured a global strategic partnership with SAP to integrate SAP Signavio's process suite into its change intelligence platform.
M&A Activity · Oceania
TAL Daiichi Life Australia →TAL Daiichi Life Australia has launched a A$7.8 billion takeover bid for Challenger, an Australian listed life insurer and asset manager.
Capital Raising · Oceania
Zoono Group →Zoono Group (ASX:ZNO) reported a quarterly update with cash receipts falling from the prior quarter, alongside a trading halt and placement noted in the source tag, suggesting a near-term equity raise to fund operations.