Stepping into a General Manager role represents a shift from focusing on specific areas of operations to overseeing the entire scope of an organization’s functions, from strategy to execution.

For those who are ready to take on the challenge, Volaris Group offers a compelling environment to grow as a leader. Business leaders who are part of Volaris have the freedom to determine what is best for the business they run, but they are also equipped with resources from Volaris to help them confidently lead.

John Arnott, who became the General Manager of Metafile in 2024, is one such leader.

While Volaris Group is proud that approximately 80% of our business leaders are promoted from within, we also attract leaders who are new to Volaris. Arnott, with more than 20 years of business operations and project management experience under his belt, was excited to take on his first General Manager role when he came across an opportunity at Metafile, a software business that was acquired by Volaris Group in 2021.

After spending a year as the head of Metafile, Arnott has found mentorship within our community of software business leaders while continuing the growth of a business that was founded in 1979.

The company was attractive for Volaris to acquire because it is a leading provider of automation technology to North American users of the Microsoft Dynamics suite. Their software is mission-critical to clients because it helps businesses minimize repetitive data entry tasks while eliminating potential inaccuracies and improving the efficiency of their existing workforce.

In addition to automating business processes, the tool gives users a data analytics overview, which is useful for executives and managers: “Essentially, you’re able to look at where your dollars and cents are, where people are working, what things need to be done, what hasn’t been done, and what the completion rate is on those.”

Arnott sat down with Acquired Knowledge magazine to learn more about his outlook for Metafile and what excited him about developing his career within the Volaris Group network of companies.

Why were you interested in taking on this role?

Metafile was very interesting to me because after reviewing some of their financials, I saw the ability to make improvements that could quickly improve the growth trajectory of the company.

When a company is experiencing slower sales or a product with scaling challenges, some people might see that as a situation that is hard to turn around. But I saw the silver lining in these challenges – just as Volaris does – as opportunities to take the company to the next level and to use as a pivot point to take the trajectory more vertical.

With this being your first General Manager position, what kind of support do you get by being part of a larger company like Volaris?

In my past, I’ve typically been second in command, reporting to the CEO. I’m used to overseeing a lot of different organizations. What I didn’t have before that I have now is a tried and true process. I can’t tell you how important it would have been in my past if someone said, “Hey, this is exactly the way you can do it. You have some autonomy to do it, but this is really what you need to do.”

A lot of time, as a leader in a small business without a larger organization like Volaris backing you, you’re really guessing at the best path ahead a lot of the time to figure out what’s going to work or not going to work.

At Volaris, we can tap into a depth of experience among the leaders of our peer companies. I’m excited about having the ability to do things on my own, but also being able to jump back and take a look at Volaris resources, learning programs, and other training modules. It can be helpful to reach out to other leaders to understand what they’ve done to create the best environment for their business to thrive.

Why was the Volaris ecosystem interesting to you as you continue to develop your career?

I was extremely interested in Constellation Software and Volaris Group. Initially, the recruiter reached out to me for a position that was not at Metafile. Once I found out about the brand and the culture, I knew I wanted to work within Constellation Software, specifically at Volaris Group. I had a glimpse into what’s happening here and understanding how long people are here, as well as the growth potential for someone.

For example, if I were to become a CEO at a company that stands on its own, that’s about as high as you can go. At Volaris, I have the opportunity to lead a business within the larger network of companies, and I can continue to grow your career. Leaders of Volaris businesses have gone on to become Group Leaders, who oversee several businesses, or Portfolio Leaders, who take on more M&A responsibilities.

That was something I knew I had to be a part of.

Have you gotten any ideas out of interacting with other business leaders within the ecosystem here?

Yes, I have. I’ve taken advantage of the ecosystem. The support mechanisms that are here are invaluable. There’s a certain number of challenges I think anyone or any company comes across, and I speak to other business leaders within my reach and ask them how they would do this or that.

I’ve also reached out not just to the business unit leaders but other leaders within their organizations to understand from a more detailed perspective what they’ve done. Everyone’s been warm and welcoming, and it’s great to have that ability. Everybody’s so passionate about what they do.

Asking someone these things can be hard. I’ve done it in the past: cold-called another company that’s somewhat similar. They don’t want to give you anything. They’re always wondering, what’s the background behind this? It’s really hard to find that ecosystem of not only help but also mentorship and to be able to find answers.

What’s next for Metafile?

Next for Metafile is really the world. There’s so much the company can do. We’re on the cusp of transitioning our product to a more SaaS-friendly environment to provide more for our customers on each release. We have some new leaders coming in to help with the sales organization and create a product roadmap that hasn’t been created in depth in the past.

Within Volaris, the message is driven home that businesses need to really get to know their customers. It’s definitely something I’m keeping at the forefront of my mind as we move the company forward. That the company has gone this far before Volaris acquired it – without some of these supporting mechanisms in place – is impressive and astonishing. When I look at the business and project how far it can go once we have the right tools and leadership in place, I can see us being able to push this company much higher with a strategic approach to it, and with the support of Volaris.