Thomas Bechard, the president and CEO of Powerex, the energy-trading arm of B.C. Hydro, is the highest-paid public executive in British Columbia, according to numbers released Thursday by the B.C. government. Bechard, who has served as the Powerex boss since December 2017, is pulling in just over $938,000 in salary, expenses and bonuses this year.
B.C.'s Public Sector Employers Act requires public disclosure of an organization's CEO/president and the next four highest-ranking or highest-paid executives with decision-making authority, earning an annualized base salary of $125,000 or more during a fiscal year.
Four of the top 10 highest earners are university executives. University of Victoria president and vice-chancellor James Cassels is ninth on the list with a total compensation package of just over $430,000.
HIGHEST PUBLIC-SECTOR EXECUTIVE SALARIES IN THE PROVINCE
1. Thomas Bechard
President and CEO, Powerex
Salary: $358,800
Holdback/bonus: $540,000
Benefits: $19,348
Pension: $17,512
All other compensation: $2,839
Total compensation 2018-19: $938,499
Total compensation 2017-18: $898,258
2. Santa J. Ono
President and vice-chancellor,
University of B.C.
Salary: $470,000
Holdback/bonus: $0
Benefits: $11,931
Pension: $46,050
All other compensation: $73,791
Total compensation 2018-19: $601,772
Total compensation 2017-18: $595,848
3. Chris O'Riley
President and chief operating officer,
B.C. Hydro
Salary: $365,190
Holdback/bonus: $34,223
Benefits: $29,273
Pension: $78,516
All other compensation: $47,698
Total compensation 2018-19: $554,900
Total compensation 2017-18: $529,184
4. Brenda Leong
Chair, B.C. Securities Commission
Salary: $439,764
Holdback/bonus: $0
Benefits: $12,754
Pension: $43,317
All other compensation: $7,013
Total compensation 2018-19: $502,848
Total compensation 2017-18: $639,702
5. Ken Cretney
President and CEO, B.C. Pavilion Corp.
Salary: $247,797
Holdback/bonus: $173,872
Benefits: $13,254
Pension: $24,408
All other compensation: $13,620
Total compensation 2018-19: $472,951
Total compensation 2017-18: $372,453
6. Nicolas Jimenez
President and CEO,
Insurance Corp. of B.C.
Salary: $381,601
Holdback/bonus: $0
Benefits: $17,443
Pension: $67,257
All other compensation: $2,482
Total compensation 2018-19: $468,783
Total compensation 2017-18: $382,132
7. Andrew Szeri
Vice-president academic, provost,
University of B.C.
Salary: $395,698
Holdback/bonus: $0
Benefits: $8,312
Pension: $38,620
All other compensation: $1,785
Total compensation 2018-19: $444,415
Total compensation 2017-18: $326,124
8. Andrew Petter
President, Simon Fraser University
Salary: $328,870
Holdback/bonus: $33,000
Benefits: $9,986
Pension: $32,468
All other compensation: $35,586
Total compensation 2018-19: $439,910
Total compensation 2017-18: $439,460
9. James Cassels
President and vice-chancellor,
University of Victoria
Salary: $378,388
Holdback/bonus: $0
Benefits: $7,318
Pension: $47,138
All other compensation: $135
Total compensation 2018-19: $432,979
Total compensation 2017-18: $423,215
10. Mark Poweska
Executive vice-president, operations,
B.C. Hydro
Salary: $285,667
Holdback/bonus: $54,303
Benefits: $20,484
Pension: $61,418
All other compensation: $874
Total compensation 2018-19: $422,746
Total compensation 2017-18: $405,720
