Victoria Shipyards VP Barker to Retire

Seaspan’s vice president and general manager of Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd., Malcolm Barker, will retire Spring 2015, following more than 21 years with the company.

Barker began his shipbuilding career at the age of 16 and has been in the B.C. marine industry for nearly four decades. Formerly with Yarrows Shipyard in Esquimalt, he has spent the last 21 years with Victoria Shipyards, providing dynamic leadership and establishing an exceptional level of service for a wide range of customers and suppliers around the world. 

Succeeding Barker will be Joe O’Rourke who has joined Victoria Shipyards as its new vice president and general manager, Seaspan announced.

As part of the leadership transition process, O’Rourke will work closely with Barker in the coming weeks before assuming full authority of the position immediately following Barker’s official retirement this Spring.

O’Rourke has nearly 30 years experience in positions of leadership and senior management throughout North America. He joins Seaspan after most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Business Development at Vigor Industrial LLC in Oregon.