BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez is out just two days after the BC Conservatives secured a majority government, following previous calls from the party for his dismissal.
In a statement Monday, board chair Cathy McLay announced a leadership transition and the launch of a "revitalization review" aimed at improving efficiency, reliability, and service across the ferry system.
Brian Anderson, BC Ferries' vice-president of strategy and planning, has been appointed interim CEO, effective immediately.
The leadership shakeup follows the BC Conservatives' election victory Saturday. In 2025, the party called for Jimenez and then-board chair Joy MacPhail to be fired after BC Ferries awarded a roughly $1-billion contract to a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels.
The Conservatives criticized the decision amid ongoing trade tensions between Canada and China.
While the board has not linked Jimenez's departure to the election results, its statement outlines plans to work with the incoming provincial government as part of its review.
“The ferry system is a lifeline for coastal residents and businesses, and critical to the province's economy,” McLay said in the statement. “The review will define new ways to optimize the system and improve how BC Ferries delivers services for customers and coastal communities.”
BC Ferries' executive vice-president and chief financial officer, Dallyn Willis, will take on additional responsibilities for strategy and planning and lead the review.
The changes come as BC Ferries prepares for its next regulatory review under the Coastal Ferry Act, which takes place every four years to establish fare limits and required service levels.
The board says it intends to work with the incoming provincial government, BC Ferry Authority, and BC Ferries Commissioner to ensure the system remains reliable, safe, and sustainable.
McLay thanked Jimenez for his contributions to BC Ferries and wished him success in his future endeavours.
A formal search for a permanent CEO will begin following the revitalization review.
