With only a few days left in his term as interim president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Wheat Board, Greg Arason is awaiting word on whether he’ll be staying on the job for a few more months.
The CWB’s board directors held a conference call March 12 to discuss whether to recommend to the federal government that Arason be reappointed until a permanent replacement is found.
No decision had been reached by the Western Producer’s deadline on March 12.
Arason was appointed in late December to replaced Adrian Measner, who was fired by federal CWB minister Chuck Strahl. Arason’s 90 day term expires March 18.
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Arason has told the board and the government that while he has no desire to remain on the job for the long term, he is prepared to carry on for a while.
“I have indicated I am prepared to stay on for an interim period to give them a reasonable time frame to find a permanent replacement,” he said, adding he believes the board supports an extension.
While Strahl has the authority to extend Arason’s term, the CWB’s directors have the authority to set his salary beyond the original 90 days, effectively giving them control over any appointment.
Arason’s salary became an issue when it was revealed he was being paid more in salary, although less in other benefits, than Measner.
An extension of his term is necessary because virtually no progress has been made in the search for a new permanent president and CEO.
The board has proposed to Strahl that the same process be used as a few years ago, when Measner was hired.
At that time, a special committee of directors wrote a job description and hired a professional search firm to launch a continent-wide search for a suitable candidate. The board eventually selected Measner and submitted his name to former CWB minister Ralph Goodale, who made the appointment. Government officials acted as observers.
McCreary said the board has received no indication from the minister that he would oppose using the same process.
However, the uncertainty about the board’s future could make the task of finding a CEO more challenging this time, especially when it comes to the job description.
“There remain complete impasses about the future shape of the board,” said McCreary.
Will the job of the new CEO be to preside over the dismantling of the CWB’s single desk or will it be to expand CWB operations under a single desk, as outlined in the board’s vision document Harvesting Opportunity?
McCreary said the only existing legal description of the board’s activities is the CWB Act, which describes a single desk grain marketing agency.
“We would have to write a job description on the premise that it’s for the CWB as described in the act,” he said. “It would have to be that because we don’t know anything different.”
McCreary said the board and Strahl could have sharply different views of what a new CEO’s job would be, and given the lack of clarity about the proposed new-look wheat board, there is nothing to be gained by rushing ahead.
“The directors have agreed that to have a reasonable chance of success, we need to leave some time,” he said.
