BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez out as board launches system review

Nicolas Jimenez is out as CEO of B.C.

Board Appoints Interim Leadership and Launches Review

Brian Anderson, formerly the ferry company’s vice president of strategy and planning, has stepped in as interim chief executive officer. Dallyn Willis, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, will take on Anderson’s previous responsibilities while also leading the newly announced review. McLay stated that the review aims to address growing demands on the coastal network and deliver reliable services for communities, with a formal search for a permanent successor slated for a later date, according to CTV News.

Jimenez took the helm at B.C. Ferries in 2023 after serving nearly two decades at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, including a stint as CEO starting in 2018 when David Eby served as attorney general. Conservatives over the NDP.

Chinese Vessel Contract Draws Political Criticism

Under Jimenez, B.C. Ferries pursued a procurement contract for four new major vessels awarded to a Chinese state-owned enterprise, China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards. The deal drew sharp criticism from political figures during and after the process. Jimenez defended the decision before the House of Commons transport committee, explaining that the organization evaluated six compliant bids from foreign shipyards after domestic yards declined to submit formal proposals.

Despite the justification, the contract became a focal point for opposition critics. The B.C. Conservatives had publicly demanded the firing of both Jimenez and board chair Joy MacPhail over the agreement.

Sailing Cancellations Triple Amid Operational Strain

Eric McNeely, president of the B.C. McNeely indicated that while the exact timing came as a surprise, the union anticipated leadership changes amid ongoing challenges across coastal routes.

Operational strain has intensified across the system in recent years. A CBC News investigation revealed that sailing cancellations across all routes tripled between 2017 and 2025, while delayed sailings rose from 11 percent to 16 percent. Municipal leaders, including Gibsons Mayor Silas White, pointed to persistent customer communication hurdles and reservation system frustrations as ongoing hurdles for management as the board begins its system-wide review under the Coastal Ferry Act.