TransLink replacing interim CEO Doug Allen, fires two executives

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      TransLink is shaking up its executive ranks following the victory of the "no" side in the Metro Vancouver transit referendum.

      First of all, the regional transportation authority is replacing its interim CEO with an acting CEO next month.

      Secondly, TransLink has let go of two top executives: Doug Kelsey and Bob Paddon.

      In the year ending on December 31, 2013, Kelsey was paid $335,230 for overseeing B.C. Rapid Transit Company.

      Paddon was paid $276,487 in 2013 as TransLink's vice president planning and stakeholder relations.

      Figures have not yet been released for 2014.

      TransLink issued today (July 14) the following statement:

      TransLink has named 30-year SkyTrain veteran Mike Richard acting president and general manager of BC Rapid Transit Company. Doug Kelsey is no longer with the organization. 

      TransLink continues to reduce executive salary costs. The position of Executive Vice President Planning and Stakeholder Relations has been eliminated.  Bob Paddon is no longer with the organization.

      Since 2011, staffing costs across the TransLink enterprise have been significantly reduced though downsizing at the management and executive level and the subsequent elimination of positions.

      When Interim CEO Doug Allen leaves the organization on August 10, TransLink CFO Cathy McLay will become Acting CEO until a permanent CEO is in place. In addition to her new responsibilities, McLay will maintain her current role and her responsibilities as executive sponsor for Compass.

      The executive search for a new CEO is well underway. 

      Comments

      7 Comments

      No To Waste

      Jul 14, 2015 at 3:01pm

      Translink has within it's current Budget $300 to $400 Million a year that can be reallocated effectively to increase Service today!

      1. eliminate the $25 to $30 Million a year on Compass operations, it will NEVER pay for itself even with 100% fare collection!!!

      2. eliminate the $32++ Million a year for a private security force that is wholly unnecessary , $100K per year Fare Checkers are not needed,

      3. Get competitive Tenders for Buses, currently $500 to $600K+ is paid per Bus! I can buy a Ferrari cheaper than Translink pays for a Bus!

      4. Eliminate all sub-contracts like that for the Canada Line, save $100+ million a year,

      5. eliminate redundant Multiple Management structures, there should be only one Management Team for all Translink operations and it's Companies,

      - currently you have separate management structures and CEO's etc for each Operating Division of Translink, WASTE!

      There are many more items in the current Budget that can be re-directed to increase service levels and efficiency.

      It's no wonder people voted No against this Gross Waste!!!

      ursa minor

      Jul 14, 2015 at 3:22pm

      @ No to waste - in response to your plan:

      1. The money is already spent on Compass, and a universal card is cheaper in the long run than individual tickets. However, there's no valid reason to track passenger movements, so the "tap out" feature can be scrapped.

      2. The Compass Card and the Faregates make fare enforcement largely redundant, which should allow Transit Police to be discontinued and those operations returned to the VPD and RCMP.

      3. $500,000 is actually the going rate for a diesel bus. Save on fuel by establishing more trolley lines. Convert the 99 B-Line to light rail.

      4. and 5. - TransLink is set up with subcontracts and multiple management structures because those pieces are easier for a right-wing provincial government to carve off and privatize. Since no one is going to step up and buy the entire system, the pragmatic thing would be for the provincial government to commit to a single, accountable public transit system in Metro Vancouver.

      If people are serious about shaking up TransLink, they need to shake up the BC Legislature in the 2017 election.

      No to Waste

      Jul 14, 2015 at 4:03pm

      @ ursa minor...

      1. You are incorrect in your hasty assumption, I specified future operational Costs, you confuse that with the $200 Million spent on implementation to date, Compass is not yet operational,

      2. My point is that Translink is spending this "enforcement" regardless of Compass and has not stated or committed to reduce this when Compass eventually belatedly becomes operational, therefore your point is pointless,

      3. Where did you get $500,000 is the going rate for a friggin Bus? Out of your ass? It is not the going rate and can be put to Global Competitive Bid, I'm sure the South Koreans could provide a Bus for less than 50% of $500K, so your proof that this is the Global going rate for a Bus, cite your data proof,

      4. and 5. - You point is pointless the Government has made no such indication, probably never will, perhaps this is your wish in your fantasy land.

      The only viable electable opponent is the NDP and they won't scrap the bloated Unionised nor the Corporate Welfare to the Canadian Companies making the Coach part of the Bus via Union Labour.

      Regardless of whether it's the Liberals or the NDP not much will change at Translink.

      Only sustained massive Public pressure will against Translink will.

      queetz

      Jul 14, 2015 at 4:52pm

      Starve Vancouver of roads and transit because it's never enough, we'll rebuild society around Coquitlam instead

      ursa minor

      Jul 15, 2015 at 9:10am

      @ No to waste

      1. Compass cards have been distributed to U-Pass users as of June 1, so the rollout is well under way.

      2. You seem to have issues with people who agree with you on something.

      3. A sample of tenders at publictransport.about.com shows that buses run about $300,000 to $700,000 depending on whether the bus is Diesel, Natural Gas, or a Hybrid. These aren't minivans, they're specialized vehicles like ambulances and police cars, you can't just go to the dealership for a test drive.

      4 & 5 Fine then, wait until someone is willing to buy the entire system outright. Of course it's not like privatized transportation concerns aren't regularly gutted and passengers inconvenienced or put at risk just to please the all-mighty institutional shareholder (air travel much?!)

      Some of us don't buy your "both sides are bad, so keep Christy Clark in power". An NDP government would give TransLink back to the Mayors as it was the Liberals who took it away from them. Sustained public pressure doesn't work unless there's someone with a mandate from the public in charge, and that can only happen until a new provincial government puts elected officials in charge again.

      SPY vs SPY

      Jul 15, 2015 at 11:26am

      OK - so they cut 2 x Executive positions at Translink - That saves Translink $600,000 Plus a year - I want to see detailed information on the 2 terminations - I want to know what the payout was for these 2 x Executives to walk away from jobs that paid them in the range of $1,000.00 / Day.

      Translink will probably consider how

      MY TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON EXECUTIVE SALARIES AND TERMINATION PAY - HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Here's a question

      Jul 15, 2015 at 2:03pm

      Did anyone bother to check the optics on putting the executive sponsor of the Compass project in charge of the ball of wax? When I think 'superstar management' the Compass project doesn't exactly come to mind.

      Can't we just shitcan the top third of Translink and rebuild with outsiders?