Robbie Drummond is stepping down as chief executive of Caledonian MacBrayne with immediate effect, the company announced on Wednesday
The chief executive of Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), the UK’s biggest ferry company, has decided to step down amid ongoing challenges with its fleet.
Robbie Drummond announced his immediate departure from his role on Wednesday. His departure comes a week after the chief executive of the state-owned shipyard Ferguson Marine, David Tydeman, was sacked by its board.
Mr Drummond’s departure comes after a review by the board of CalMac, which is also wholly owned by the Scottish Government. It led to the Conservatives claiming the SNP Government is presiding over “utter chaos” on the ferry network.
Problems have piled up due to its aging fleet and delays with two new ferries being built in Port Glasgow, creating disruptions on routes around Scotland ‘s west coast. Expected to serve routes in the west of Scotland, these two new ferries are six years overdue and cost triple the first estimated price of £97million.
Ministers are also due to make a decision this summer on the awarding of the ferry services contract for the west coast, something which would have a material impact on CalMac as a going concern.
Mr Drummond was previously managing director of CalMac before becoming its chief executive in October 2022. Last year, he received £170,000 in bonuses on top of his £143,000 salary. His departure was announced by the company on Wednesday.
They stated: “The Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd board takes the responsibility of delivering the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) contract extremely seriously.” They acknowledged the issues faced by island communities that rely on CalMac’s ferry services, which they expect to persist until new craft are added to their fleet over the upcoming years.
“In this context, the board wants to strengthen the focus further on operational performance of an ageing fleet, resilience and enhanced dialogue and responsiveness with the customers and the communities CalMac serves. As part of that review, current CEO Robbie Drummond is stepping down with immediate effect.”
Duncan Mackison, who used to head up CalMac’s parent company David MacBrayne Ltd, will take over as interim boss until they find a full-time replacement for Mr Drummond. Graham Simpson, who speaks for the Scottish Conservatives about transport matters, said: “Robbie Drummond is now the latest scapegoat for the SNP’s ferries fiasco.”
He added: “Mairi McAllan as the SNP minister responsible is presiding over utter chaos in Scotland’s ferry network. Not a single ministerial resignation has been offered over this scandal yet now the head of both CalMac and Ferguson Marine have been fired in the space of two weeks.”
“The minister needs to urgently explain not least to betrayed islanders what is going on here and why she believes sacking CalMac’s top boss is a good idea. The buck ultimately stops with them over the failure to deliver lifeline vessels to our islanders.”
