On a January Tuesday, British Columbia's ferry operator chose a new leader from within the province's public institutions: Nicolas Jimenez, who has spent nearly two decades steering ICBC, the public auto insurer, is moving to take the helm of BC Ferries. The seat had stood empty since July, when the previous chief was dismissed in a search for renewal, and it now passes to someone whose work has been measured in premiums, claims and public trust. Whether a steady hand from one public enterprise can steady another, with its crowded decks, aging vessels and strained crews, is the question the co
ICBC CEO Nicolas Jimenez Named to Lead BC Ferries After Nearly Two Decades at Insurer
The right leader at the right time, the board chair said of Jimenez
Mark
So why does this appointment matter beyond a job change?
Mimi
BC Ferries has gone since July without a permanent CEO. Mark Collins was fired, and CFO Jill Sharland has been covering. That's about six months of an interim arrangement.
Mark
And the board's language at the time of the firing was pretty pointed.
Mimi
It was. They talked about renewal, fresh ideas, and a renewed commitment to customer service, safety and affordability. Now the chair is calling Jimenez a change leader, so the two statements line up.
Luke
Careful, though. "Change leader with a proven track record" is the board chair's characterization. The reporting here doesn't give us specifics of what he changed at ICBC.
Mark
Fair. What does the board say he has to deal with?
Mimi
Staffing shortages, service disruptions and revitalizing the fleet. Those are named as his tasks.
Luke
Worth noting those are the board's priorities as stated. Nothing here says how he plans to approach them, or what he has said himself.
Mark
And ICBC?
Mimi
Its board called his departure a loss and appointed CFO Phil Leong as interim. His last day is Feb. 3, and he starts at BC Ferries March 6.
Luke
What we don't know is the reason he chose to leave, or the terms of the move. The piece doesn't say, and it ends with "more to come."
O Pulso
- BC Ferries has gone without a permanent chief executive since Mark Collins was fired in July, leaving the company steered by an interim leader.
- Staffing shortages and service disruptions are testing the patience of ferry travelers across coastal B.C.
- The board has named Jimenez a change leader tasked with revitalizing an aging fleet while keeping rates affordable.
- ICBC is now preparing for its own leadership gap, with CFO Phil Leong stepping in as interim head after Jimenez's last day on Feb. 3.
- Jimenez is set to start at BC Ferries on March 6, and the first moves he makes will show whether the board's confidence is warranted.
On a January Tuesday, British Columbia's ferry operator chose a new leader from within the province's public institutions: Nicolas Jimenez, who has spent nearly two decades steering ICBC, the public auto insurer, is moving to take the helm of BC Ferries. The seat had stood empty since July, when the previous chief was dismissed in a search for renewal, and it now passes to someone whose work has been measured in premiums, claims and public trust. Whether a steady hand from one public enterprise can steady another, with its crowded decks, aging vessels and strained crews, is the question the coming months will answer.
On Tuesday, January 17, BC Ferries announced that Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of ICBC, would become its next chief executive. After close to twenty years at the public auto insurer, he is leaving to take on one of the most demanding jobs in British Columbia's public sector.
The post has been vacant since July, when Mark Collins was fired. The company said at the time it wanted renewal, fresh ideas and a renewed commitment to customer service, safety and affordability. Vice President and CFO Jill Sharland has been holding the role on an interim basis while an international search ran its course, and that search ended with a candidate from another B.C. Crown corporation.
Board Chair Joy MacPhail described Jimenez as the right leader at the right time, a change leader with a proven record who is focused on customers and committed to financial accountability and rate affordability. She was also clear about the work ahead: staffing shortages, service disruptions, and the revitalization of the fleet.
At ICBC, the mood was one of regret. Board Chair Catherine Holt thanked him for his contributions and wished him success, while the insurer named CFO Phil Leong as interim replacement. Jimenez's last day at ICBC is Feb. 3, and he starts at BC Ferries on March 6. The next chapter will be judged by how he handles the crowded sailings, the strained crews and the aging ships that now define the ferry system.
On Tuesday, Jan. 17, BC Ferries announced who it wants at the helm: Nicolas Jimenez, the man who has been running British Columbia's public auto insurer. After close to 20 years at ICBC, most recently as its president and CEO, Jimenez is leaving to become head of the ferry operator.
The job has been open for a while. BC Ferries has had no permanent chief executive since July, when Mark Collins was fired from the post. In the months since, Vice President and CFO Jill Sharland has been filling the role on an interim basis.
When Collins was dismissed, the company said it was time for "renewal, fresh ideas and a renewed commitment to the highest standards of customer service, safety and affordability." The ferry operator says it then ran an international search to find the right successor, and that search ended with a candidate from another B.C. Crown corporation.
Board Chair Joy MacPhail laid out the case for him in a statement issued Tuesday. She called Jimenez the right leader at the right time, describing him as a change leader with a proven track record of success. In her words, he is focused on customers and deeply committed to financial accountability and rate affordability.
MacPhail was also direct about what awaits him. It will fall to Jimenez, she said, to tackle staffing shortages and service disruptions, and to revitalize the fleet.
At ICBC, the board's reaction was one of regret. Directors thanked Jimenez for his service and described his departure as a loss for the company. Board Chair Catherine Holt said in a statement that they look back on his contributions with admiration and appreciation, and wish him nothing but success in the new role. ICBC has named its CFO, Phil Leong, as interim replacement.
The handover has a set timeline. Jimenez's last day at ICBC will be Feb. 3, and he starts at BC Ferries on March 6. Until then, Sharland continues in the interim role at the ferry operator. The next thing to watch is how the new chief addresses the three problems the board has put in front of him: staffing, service reliability and the aging fleet.
Citações Notáveis
Nicolas Jimenez is the right leader at the right time for BC Ferries. He is a change leader with a proven track record of success.— Joy MacPhail, BC Ferries Board Chair
We look back on his contributions to ICBC with admiration and appreciation.— Catherine Holt, ICBC Board Chair
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Politics & Governance