Ian Troop out as Pan Am Games CEO

Ian Troop has been dismissed from his position as Toronto Pan Am Games CEO, and will be replaced by Ontario’s former Deputy Minister of Health, Saad Rafi. 

Pan Am spokesman Teddy Katz says the board of directors decided it needed a change in leadership as it shifted from the planning to the operational phase of games. "Mr. Troop is leaving the organization and this was a decision made by the board of directors," said Katz.

But the games have been the subject of some controversy after a spending report in September revealed executives, including Troop, were billing for trivial expenses like a cup of tea.

Troop, who was paid $477,000 a year, billed taxpayers for a 91-cent parking ticket.

At the time, Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne flat-out called such expenses ridiculous. "It is the kind of entitlement that is unacceptable," she said.

There were also larger expenses. Pan Am senior vice-president Louise Lutgens rented a car in Guadalajara, the host of the last games, for $1,830 and also billed $9.92 for laundry and another $45 for a cover for her BlackBerry.

CFO Barb Anderson, who is paid $307,000 a year, twice billed taxpayers $1.89 for coffee.

Troop also expensed $8,561.19 for a Mexican hotel and cocktail party.

But Katz said the board's decision was not about expenses.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I’d like to extend our sincere gratitude to Ian for all of his hard work, his commitment and his contributions,” said David Peterson, chair of the games Organizing Committee and former Ontario premier. “Our capital projects are on time and on or under budget. We wish him well.”

Peterson was the Liberal leader and premier of Ontario from 1985-1990. Rafi was the highest paid civil servant in Ontario last year, making $428,000.

Rafi will take over as CEO on January 6, 2014.