'Time right to pass on baton' says CalMac chief Sinclair

Published on Thursday 7 January 2010 21:48

THE man at the helm of ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne through some of its most turbulent times is to retire this year.

Lawrie Sinclair, chief executive of the David MacBrayne Group, which includes CalMac Ferries and NorthLink Ferries, is to leave the 122,000 a year post at the end of June.

Before the group's major restructuring in October 2006, Mr Sinclair had been managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne since 2000, and oversaw its separation into Caledonian Maritime Assets and CalMac Ferries.

He then led the company's successful bids to provide lifeline ferry services for both the Northern Isles and the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contracts.

His contract was due to end in April 2010, but he has agreed to extend it by a few months to manage the handover to his successor.

Mr Sinclair said: "My time with CalMac has been one of the most challenging and rewarding times of my life, and I leave with very mixed feelings. However, I do believe that as we approach the retendering of the contracts for both the Northern Isles and Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, the time is right to pass the baton onto someone else."