Yet another senior official has parted ways with Vancouver city hall.
This time, however, it was an amicable split.
Chief purchasing official Jim Bornholdt left his $149,870 a year job in April, only two years since joining the City of Vancouver from VANOC. His new job is with North Vancouver-based Seaspan, which was awarded an $8-billion federal shipbuilding contract last fall.
Jim Bornholdt resigned end of March or near the beginning of April after being recruited by Seaspan, and left about two or three weeks later. Great opportunity, said city spokeswoman Mairi Welman. He will be missed.
Bornholdt was named director of supply chain management for new construction effective Tuesday.
I enjoyed my time at the city and the many accomplishments and I feel fortunate in my career to have worked for such tremendous leaders as John Furlong and Dr. Penny Ballem, Bornholdt said.
Bornholdts departure comes on the heels of the March 15 without-cause firing of emergency management director Kevin Wallinger. Director of planning Brent Toderian was axed at the end of January. Toderian was paid $211,300 in 2011, while Wallinger received $152,089.
The citys chief electrician Ark Tsisserev was fired in a cost-cutting move in early 2010 and received a $180,000 severance package. He was replaced by chief building official Will Johnston.
Previous city manager Judy Rogers was named the new chair of B.C. Housing Management Commission by the provincial government on April 27. Rogers was the first major personnel decision by Mayor Gregor Robertson when he assumed office in December 2008. Rogers received a $571,788 severance package after Penny Ballem took over without an open competition for the post.
Meanwhile, BC Hydros communications head quietly left the Crown corporation in April.
Senior vice-president Renee Smith-Valade gained notoriety as the vice-president of communications for VANOC and followed her boss, deputy CEO Dave Cobb, to the Crown corporation in mid-2010, after the Games. Cobb quit last fall to join the Jim Pattison Group.
We can confirm Renee resigned from her position at the beginning of April to take some time off and pursue other opportunities in communications, said BC Hydro spokesman Greg Alexis. Director Steve Vanagas has taken on Renees previous responsibilities for communications on an interim basis.
Smith-Valade declined comment when contacted.
Elsewhere, Erin Dermer, TransLinks successor to retiring communications head Ken Hardie, quit the embattled public transit and roads agency to join Telus.
TransLink executive vice-president of strategic planning and public affairs Bob Paddon said Dermer was headhunted by the Vancouver-based telecom.
It was our loss, Paddon said. A great opportunity for her.
Paddon said Hardie was shifted to the Compass card project, which will be his swansong.
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