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. Most recently, Percy was executive vice-president of CAD Railway Industries Ltd.
“He brings to the TTC his executive leadership experience in operations and capital expansion and a deep understanding of transit in Toronto,” Myers said.
Myers said Percy will guide the transit agency while the board continues its search for a permanent CEO.
Percy told reporters that his top priorities for the TTC will be safety and customer experience.
“You have to hit the road running,” he said.
Percy said he would like to get to know the leadership team quickly. He said no one CEO can get things done without support from the team.
“We need to increase our reliability. We know that,” he said. “It’s about bringing people together to get things done.”
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.
Myers has said the search for a permanent CEO is an international one, and such a process can take a minimum of six months.