The B.C. Ferries board of directors removed the company’s chief executive officer and installed an interim CEO on Monday. The B.C. Conservatives defeated the B.C. NDP on Saturday, and the removal of Nicolas Jiminez is the first high-profile shakeup in a government position since the election. Jiminez became CEO of B.C. Ferries in 2023, when he moved from the same role at ICBC. Brian Anderson, who previously served as vice-president of strategy and planning, has been named interim CEO. A statement issued by B.C. Ferries board chair Cathy McLay explained the leadership transition comes as part of a “revitalization review 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 ferry system is a lifeline for coastal residents and businesses, and critical to the province’s economy. The review will define new ways to optimize the system and improve how B.C. Ferries delivers services for customers and coastal communities,” McLay wrote, noting the board will work with the incoming Conservative government to “ensure the system is reliable, safe and sustainable.” McLay said B.C. Ferries undergoes regulatory review and contract discussions every four years under the province’s Coastal Ferry Act, which has been in place since the B.C. Ferry Authority was established in 2003. “Under the Coastal Ferry Act, B.C. Ferries undergoes a regulatory review and contract discussions every four years to set limits on fares and establish required service levels,” she said. In the lead up to B.C.’s snap election, all major parties made promises to improve ferry service. Incumbent David Eby and his B.C. NDP aimed to improve service on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route, which saw recurring disruptions and cancellations through 2026. The B.C. Greens meanwhile aimed to increase the amount of B.C. Ferries vessels in service, and introduce more electric ferries—which have been slowly rolled out on smaller island routes in the last few years, with the last in the “Island Class” coming into service in 2027. Lorne Doerkson and his B.C. Conservatives vowed to “establish a B.C. Ferries Charter, fight for B.C.’s fair share of federal ferry funding and bring reliable Wi-Fi to major routes and terminals.” “David Eby has devastated B.C. Ferries. After nine years of the NDP, British Columbians face cancelled sailings, overloaded routes and long waits. Meanwhile, the people running the corporation face no real accountability,” it reads. “The Charter will hold B.C. Ferries leadership accountable for meeting those standards and reduce redundancy at the board level, so more resources go into service instead of administration.” The Conservatives said their proposed B.C. Ferries Charter would set standards for reliability, on-time performance, affordability, capacity and customer service. McLay said the corporation will begin a search for a new permanent CEO after the review.
