Desmond to step down as TransLink CEO in 2021
TransLink will need to start looking for a new boss after CEO Kevin Desmond announced Tuesday that he will be leaving his post next year.
Desmond, who took over Metro Vancouver's regional transit authority in 2016, advised TransLink's board of directors that he will be leaving in February and returning to the United States.
Before arriving in British Columbia, Desmond served as the general manager for King County Metro Transit in Seattle.
During Desmond's tenure, TransLink earned approval for two investment plans totalling $9 billion for new transit expansion projects including the Broadway subway project and the Surrey SkyTrain extension to Langley.
Under his watch TransLink was named the best transit system in North America in 2019 by the American Public Transportation Association.
TransLink also credits Desmond for overseeing the implementation of “tap to pay” fare gates as well as the introduction of 10-minute SeaBus service, new RapidBus service and double-decker buses.
“It's been an honour to serve this great region,” Desmond said in a news release. “When I arrived in 2016, I knew we already had a world-class transit system and I'm proud to have helped expand the breadth and depth of our services with a relentless commitment to our customers and public accountability. These achievements are thanks to a diverse team of nearly 8,000 employees across the enterprise committed to safety, reliability, a positive customer experience and improved public engagement. We have accomplished so much together.”
TransLink hired Desmond at an annual salary of $365,000, but a 2019 review of executive salaries by the TransLink Mayors' Council bumped his earning potential to $517,443 per year.
The TransLink board of directors has hired an executive search firm to immediately begin a global search for the next CEO.