NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – TransLink Board of Directors Chair Marcella Szel announced today that Doug Allen will, on an interim basis, replace Ian Jarvis as CEO of TransLink, effective immediately.

“The Board and the organization are committed to improving transit service and transportation in Metro Vancouver. The Board of Directors is listening to customers and the public regarding the need for change and has taken action.”

“The person selected as the permanent CEO will be responsible for meeting the challenges of a growing region that expects to see one million new residents in the next 30 years. Either there will be major new investments to implement or there will be the challenge of underfunding. Regardless, TransLink must restore public confidence, and new leadership is the first step,” said Szel.

A search committee has been established by the Board of Directors to undertake a comprehensive search for a new CEO. This search is expected to take several months.

In addition to implementing programs guided by the outcome of the plebiscite, the new CEO will oversee a $10-billion transportation system and $1.5 billion dollar operating budget, 6,700 employees, and TransLink’s operating companies: Coast Mountain Bus Company, BC Rapid Transit Company, and Transit Police. Building a better relationship with customers and key stakeholders will be paramount.

TransLink interim CEO Doug Allen has an extensive background in the public and private sectors in British Columbia and most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of InTransit BC, the company that built and operates the Canada Line. Mr. Allen is not a candidate for permanent CEO and will work directly with the Board of Directors in recruiting and selecting his successor.

“During this transition period, Mr. Allen will provide excellent leadership on all priorities, including meeting aggressive targets on the Compass program, implementing recommendations from the independent review of the SkyTrain outages, and moving forward on actions to improve safety and service for our customers,” said Szel.

Ian Jarvis has stepped aside as CEO to become an advisor to the Board of Directors until the conclusion of his contract in June 2016. The Board would like to extend its thanks to Mr. Jarvis, who has served TransLink since 1999, and as CEO since 2009. In the past three years, he has delivered a net improvement of a quarter-billion dollars to TransLink’s bottom line.