ICBC chairwoman Nancy Mckinstry resigns
While not prepared to discuss where she is going, she says the decision was ‘ difficult’ to make
VICTORIA — Less than two years after taking over as chairwoman of the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia, Nancy Mckinstry has resigned.
Calling it a “difficult decision,” Mckinstry said she is leaving the job to pursue other professional opportunities.
“I’m not really prepared to disclose where I’m going,” she said in an interview Friday. “I’m not going in particular anywhere, I’m just looking for some diversity in terms of the work that I do and some exciting possibilities have been presented.”
An Order of Canada recipient, Mckinstry has a high profile in B. C.’ s business and non- profit communities.
On Friday, Mckinstry said she made the decision over Christmas, while away on a three- week vacation.
“It just seemed like the appropriate time,” she said. “This move was really timing based on my personal agenda.”
Asked whether her resignation was connected to any recent interventions by government, or decisions within ICBC, Mckinstry responded: “Absolutely not.”
“Government has been gracious, I’ve loved my time at ICBC. British Columbians are incredibly well served by the executive and the board that are there,” she said. “I feel terrific about what we’ve accomplished.”
Last year, Solicitor- General Shirley Bond stepped in and quashed a proposal by ICBC to have drivers pay higher premiums after just one traffic violation.
In last October’s speech from the throne, Premier Christy Clark’s government also promised to take a “hard look at all Crown corporations, starting in January, to ensure taxpayers and families are protected and the interests of all British Columbians are well served.”
Asked Friday about the resignation, Clark thanked Mckinstry for her contribution. “I thank her for her work. Nancy Mckinstry has done a ton of philanthropic work in British Columbia. She’s been an incredible community volunteer and I understand she’s stepped down for personal reasons,” said Clark. “My comment would be to thank Nancy for the work that she’s done.”
In an email to staff sent Friday, ICBC CEO Jon Schubert also thanked Mckinstry. “Nancy has provided wise and professional leadership to the Board since her appointment as Chair in 2010 and her strong commitment to the governance of ICBC has been outstanding,” he said.
“I will personally miss Nancy, as will others at ICBC who have had the chance to work with her, and I wish her all the best as she moves on to new opportunities.”
Schubert was not available for an interview on the subject.
New Democratic Party solicitor-general critic Kathy Corrigan said the departure comes at a bad time for ICBC. “I can’t really speculate on the reasons she’s leaving but I can say that I think it’s an unfortunate time for ICBC because they have been in so much upheaval — almost turmoil — over the last year, year and a half,” she said Friday.
Before her time at ICBC, McKinstry spent more than two decades with Odlum Brown Ltd., where she became the first woman appointed as director, and in 1996 she was appointed vice- president. Mckinstry was named ICBC chairwoman in May 2010, replacing then outgoing chair T. Richard Turner.