Family trumps CEO job at WestJet
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/03/2010 (5985 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
CALGARY — As Sean Durfy navigated Canada’s second-largest airline through a ruthless economic environment, he was simultaneously dealing with turbulent times for his young family.
On Tuesday, Durfy explained why his role as husband and father ultimately trumped his role as chief executive officer at WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX:WJA).
"In my 15-year career of being an executive, I’ve never had more than two weeks off. It’s about time that I spend more time with my family," Durfy, 43, told a news conference. "It’s amazing that people have a hard time accepting that in this day and age."
WestJet announced without warning late Monday that Durfy would step down and that Gregg Saretsky, vice-president of operations, would take the helm. Durfy is to stay on and help with the transition until September.
Durfy’s only plans so far are to spend time with his wife, three-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter.
"I like to call it ‘Freedom-43.’ So effectively I’m retired," Durfy said, adding that the idea of returning to the "all-consuming" airline industry holds no appeal.
In an interview, Durfy said he made his decision to step down after his wife, Tracy, recovered from a long illness. She had a brain tumour removed four years ago, and suffered some complications this past year, which only recently cleared up.
"With her health now fully recovered and feeling fantastic, I sat back and we thought about it and said ‘What do we need to do?"’ he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
"And what we need to do as a family is spend more time together and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing."
The announcement came as a surprise and raised speculation that Durfy was replaced because of the airline’s recent financial performance and operational problems.
Airline industry analyst Rick Erickson said he was "dismayed" by those reports. "Profits are off in the last quarter. Well guess what? Profits are off with every single airline worldwide, even glorious Southwest (Airlines) is not performing to the same level that WestJet has," he said.
— The Canadian Press