The new temporary boss of Cal Mac Ferries has previously been hired by firms as a professional troubleshooter.
Gary Robertson starts work this morning (Mon) as an interim managing director with the west coast passenger ferry operator. He is on a six month fixed term contract.
Mr Robertson’s rapid appointment comes under a week since staff were told of the
imminent departure of present managing director Philip Preston as “part of a re-
Archie Robertson, chief executive of David MacBrayne Ltd gave no further explanation why Mr Preston is departing so suddenly after 18 years as an employee.
A Cal Mac spokesman previously maintained Mr Preston’s departure was “a normal part of any company evolution (where) people move on and roles change.”
The senior management changes were filtered out via staff memos rather than a public or press statement as may be expected.
In a Cal Mac message, staff were informed that Mr Robertson “has held a number of senior positions in both private and public sector organisations, including a spell at retail giant DSG International, best known as Currys and PC World, and has a particular talent for focusing on customers and creating the business environment which is best placed to meet their needs.”
In recent years, Mr Robertson skills seems to be utilised in short term troubleshooting stints for organisations seeking a fresh direction.
His last executive position appears to be seven months with Legal Services Commission to restructure its board and revamp legal services in England.
In 2006, he had an Interim executive role to conceive and launch a customer support service for DSG International, the retail conglomerate which owns Currys and PC World. That followed on from a post within a restructuring drive in the DSG Group the previous year.
Mr Robertson was earlier appointed to turn around an unprofitable council contract for outsourcing firm HBS since taken over by Mouchel Parkman.
Seven years ago he was taken on as a troubleshooter by Glen Dimplex Cooking to sort out its poorly performing supply chain.
Cal Mac takes corporate troubleshooter onboard 14/11/11
Gary Robertson takes over as boss of Cal Mac ferries after the sudden announcement of Phil Preston’s departure.