BC Ferries CEO departs as board launches review after election
The company's board has appointed an interim CEO and started a review of ferry operations.
Explainer
BC Ferries has replaced its chief executive officer and launched a review of its operations, two days after the provincial election. The company's board of directors announced a "leadership transition" on Monday, stating that CEO Nicolas Jimenez is out. Brian Anderson, the company's vice-president of strategy and planning, has been appointed interim chief executive officer, effective immediately. The board also initiated a "revitalization review" aimed at addressing growing demands on the ferry system. Board chair Cathy McLay said the review will define new ways to optimize the system and improve service delivery.
The exit of Jimenez follows the decisive victory of the BC Conservatives in Saturday's provincial election. The party, which secured a two-thirds majority, had called for Jimenez's firing last year after BC Ferries awarded a $1-billion contract to a Chinese state-owned company to build four new vessels. The Conservatives also called for the firing of then-board chair Joy MacPhail, saying she and Jimenez had shown "a complete failure of judgment" by proceeding with the contract with China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards despite Canada's trade dispute with China. The board's news release thanked Jimenez for his contributions and said a formal search for a permanent successor will follow the review.
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Why was the CEO replaced now?
The leadership change comes just two days after the BC Conservatives swept to power, though the board's statement did not cite the election as a reason. The party had been vocal in its criticism of Jimenez's leadership, particularly regarding the shipbuilding contract. Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers' Union, said he saw indications last year that a review was taking place over the Chinese contract. "I think there were some real questions around that time about why we wouldn't build ferries in B.C. or in Canada," McNeely said. The board said it looks forward to working with the incoming government.
What will the review examine?
Board chair Cathy McLay stated that the revitalization review aims to unlock "efficient and creative solutions within B.C. Ferries to address growing demands on the ferry system and deliver safe, reliable services for customers and coastal communities." The review will be led by Dallyn Willis, the company's executive vice-president and chief financial officer. Willis will also assume added responsibility for strategy and planning. Eric McNeely, president of the B.C. Ferry & Marine Workers' Union, said a coalition of unions wants better transparency. McNeely stated, "[The coalition] asks, who's making decisions at B.C. Ferries and who are they accountable to?"
"If you need an organizational chart to figure out who's responsible when things go wrong, that suggests that there's opportunities for improvement."
The BC Ferries board said it is committed to bringing innovative solutions to service obligations and working with the incoming provincial government, the BC Ferry Authority and the BC Ferries commissioner. The former Crown corporation is now a public company operated independent of government. It undergoes a regulatory review every four years under the Coastal Ferry Act to set limits on fares and establish service levels. A formal search for a permanent CEO will follow the revitalization review.
What challenges does the ferry system face?
Service reliability has been a persistent issue. A CBC News investigation earlier this year found that sailing cancellations across all routes tripled from 2017 to 2025, while the rate of delayed sailings increased from 11 per cent to 16 per cent. Silas White, mayor of ferry-dependent Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, said Jimenez inherited a huge number of challenges when he took the job. "Technology was definitely a major issue that he identified to me. When I reflect back on that being his top priority, well, it’s still not really solved yet," said White. Labour relations are also strained, with about 4,500 union members lacking a collective agreement since November 2025. McNeely said he hopes the change in leadership could reset the labour relationship. "I think with new leadership, there's a potential opportunity to find labour peace as we go into the fall period, as opposed to what was happening under previous leadership where management was giving themselves increases while unionized members continue without," said McNeely. He noted there are similarities to when Jimenez's predecessor, Mark Collins, was fired in 2022 after running afoul of the then-NDP government over dealings with the ferry workers' union.
How was the shipbuilding contract awarded?
The $1-billion contract awarded to the Chinese shipyard was a major point of controversy. Jimenez told the House of Commons transport committee last year that BC Ferries received six compliant bids to replace its four oldest ships, all from foreign countries. While two Canadian shipyards pre-qualified for the competition, he said, neither chose to formally submit a proposal. The organization chose the proposal that offered the best combination of value, quality, delivery, speed and protections for customers, Jimenez said. Jimenez was previously president and CEO of provincial auto insurer ICBC, where he worked closely with then-attorney general David Eby, who was voted out as premier in the weekend's election. The board's review will proceed before a formal search for a permanent CEO begins.
With files from The Canadian Press, CityNews and CBC News