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The ideal candidate to head World Trade Centre |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 23 January 2009 |
Now that Fred McGillivary is about to become history at the World Trade Centre, the big question is who will take the helm, take over what is to become a much bigger centre and, maybe, an even bigger arena complex. I’m not sure we need the latter. Another debate for another time.
For the Fred fans who lament his departure, a quick reminder that our graveyards are full of people once thought to be indispensible. Predictably, not one of their departures from this earth caused the world to stop spinning.
Premier Rodney MacDonald often talks about the need to develop the downtown core. On that issue we agree. A much larger world trade centre would be a major step in that direction. That and bulldozing “Pizza Corner.” I digress.
If the Province of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality team up and construct a new Trade Centre, they should get the brightest mind in our midst to run the place. The man at the head of my list would be George McLellan. The former chief administrative officer of the Halifax Regional Municipality would be a natural in the post.
Not only is he mega smart, he is a no nonsense businessman who is results oriented. And more importantly, it is always about the job, never about him.
George left the employ of HRM in late summer of 2005 to take over as the Chief Executive Officer of Emergency Medical Care.
In thirteen years with the municipality, he held a number of senior positions and was named the CAO in 2002. He knows the workings of municipal government inside and out and would no doubt be welcomed with open arms by council, perhaps even by the Doubting Thomases of our world.
Before he came back to Halifax, the Sydney native worked in banking on Wall Street, New York, and prior to that the energy industry in Houston. He is a certified management accountant with a bachelor of arts degree from Dalhousie and a master of business administration degree from Saint Mary’s University. With that background, he is eminently qualified to put the trade centre on solid financial ground.
So, Rodney MacDonald, having made the decision not to renew McGillivary’s contract, you should now take a serious look at who should oversee the construction and the operation of our new trade centre. May I humbly submit the name of George McLellan for consideration.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and broadcaster)
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