BC Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez out as board launches leadership change

VANCOUVER — Nicolas Jimenez is out as CEO at BC Ferries in a “leadership transition” launched by the company’s board, just two days after the election of the B.C. Conservatives, who asked for his firing last year.

A news release from BC Ferries said Brian Anderson, the company’s vice-president of strategy and planning, has been appointed as the interim chief executive officer, effective immediately.

The release said the board of directors had also started a “revitalization review” to address growing demands for safe, reliable services.

The B.C. Conservatives, who secured a two-third majority in Saturday’s provincial election, called last year for Jimenez to be fired after the company awarded a $1-billion contract to a Chinese state-owned company to build four new vessels.

The party also called for the firing of board chair Joy MacPhail, saying she and Jimenez had shown “a complete failure of judgment” by pushing forward with the contract with China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards despite Canada’s trade dispute with China.

Eric McNeely, provincial president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, said on Monday that he saw indications last year that a review was taking place over the Chinese contract.

“I think there were some real questions around that time about why we wouldn’t build ferries in B.C. or in Canada, and then some questions sort of emerging about who’s accountable for decisions made by BC Ferries when there is so much government money in play,” said McNeely.

McNeely said about 4,500 union members at BC Ferries have lacked a collective agreement since November 2025, and he hoped the change in leadership could reset that labour relationship.

“I think with new leadership, there’s a potential opportunity to find labour peace as we go into the fall period, as opposed to what was happening under previous leadership where management was giving themselves increases while unionized members continue without,” said McNeely.

The BC Ferries board said in its news release that it appreciated Jimenez for his contributions to the company and a search for a permanent successor would follow the revitalization review.

Jimenez told the House of Commons transport committee last year that BC Ferries received six compliant bids to replace its four oldest ships, all from foreign countries.

While two Canadian shipyards pre-qualified for the competition, he said, neither chose to formally submit a proposal.

The organization chose the proposal that offered the best combination of value, quality, delivery, speed and protections for customers, Jimenez said.

Jimenez was previously president and CEO of provincial auto insurer ICBC.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2026.