TTC appoints interim CEO who used to work for Metrolinx

The Toronto Transit Commission has appointed an interim CEO who was a former executive for Metrolinx, the board chair announced on Friday.

Coun. Jamaal Myers, who represents Scarborough North, told reporters that Gregory Percy will take over from acting TTC CEO Bruce Macgregor. The board selected Macgregor as a temporary boss following the Aug. 30 resignation of former CEO Rick Leary. Percy's appointment is effective Sept. 9.

Percy, who said he has commuter rail experience, was chief operating officer for Metrolinx from April 2016 to November 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he was president of GO Transit, a division of Metrolinx, from November 2013 to April 2016. Most recently, Percy was executive vice-president of CAD Railway Industries Ltd.

"Greg brings over four decades of experience in transit with an distinguished career," Myer said at City Hall.

"Greg is well-known and well-respected in the transit industry across Canada and comes to us with a great reputation. He brings to the TTC his executive leadership experience in operations and capital expansion and a deep understanding of transit in Toronto."

Myers said Percy will help to guide the transit agency while the board continues its search for a permanent CEO. Percy's contract is for eight months, and Myers said he is undecided about whether he will apply for the permanent CEO position.

According to Myers, the search for a permanent CEO is an international one, and such a process can take a minimum of six months.

Macgregor will return to his position as deputy TTC CEO on Sept. 9, Myers said.

Percy told reporters that the top priorities for the TTC will be safety and customer experience and it is "meaningful" for him to be interim CEO for the transit agency, which he said has a global reputation. Safety has to be the very top priority, he added.

"Our challenge is to continue to up the game," he said. "There's lots to do. It's an interim role, so that makes it very interesting. You have to hit the road running. I've done a lot of homework already."

Percy said he would like to get to know the leadership team and staff quickly and he said he would visible at TTC subway stations. He said no single CEO can get things done without support from the team.

"We need to increase and improve our reliability. We know that," he said. "It's about bringing people together to get things done."

Percy added that his leadership style involves "getting stuff done" and he tends to be a "people leader."

Union hopes 'new CEO is ready to work with us'

Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113, which represents nearly 12,000 workers, said in a statement on Friday that it welcomes the opportunity to meet with Percy and begin discussions and planning for the TTC's future to restore pride and trust in the transit agency.

"The TTC is at a crossroad and has the opportunity to redefine itself as a progressive organization that works together with public transit workers and transit riders, values their insights and expertise, ensures transparency and public interest, prioritizes safety over savings and is willing to campaign for sustainable operational funding," the union said.

Local 113 President Marvin Alfred said in the release that TTC workers know how deeply the transit agency has been cut.

"We've been fighting for years to protect service and hope the new CEO is ready to work with us. The TTC needs a champion who understands public transit service and who will fight for it," Alfred said.

According to Myers, the TTC board appointed an acting CEO before it selected an interim CEO, with the help of a third party, because of a gap in time between Leary's resignation and when the search committee members could actually meet. That third party will also help the board find a permanent CEO, he has said.