Yellowknife (Nov 17/04) - One of the North's entrepreneurial giants stepped aside and appointed a new president to run his company.

Ray Anderson, co-founder of Mid-Arctic Transportation Company (Matco), appointed Ian Kirk as the president of his company.

Anderson said he will now focus on strategic business opportunities for the company.

Both Anderson and his brother Lloyd Anderson, based in Calgary, will now occupy director roles with the company.

"My brother Lloyd and I have traded off the presidency. I was here in the '60s and '70s and Lloyd took over to the end of the '90s and then I went back in. We recruited Ian Kirk a year ago," said Anderson.

Anderson said he will be spending the majority of his time in Edmonton, but he still intends to spend much of his time in the North.

"The dynamic growth opportunities in the North will necessitate our being involved," said Anderson.

He said he feels a very close connection to Yellowknife and the whole of the North.

"It's a natural progression. You get more involved here with the size of the client base and the size of the community," he said. "You're less likely to have that relationship down south."

Anderson briefly talked nostalgically about handing over the torch to Kirk, who he described as having a good business background.

"It's a lifestyle. There are a lot of advantages in remaining active. As long as the management team feels we can contribute we will," he said.

And Kirk agrees.

"We certainly feel they can contribute," he said.

The company was formed in 1966, and provides a transportation link to the south.

The company was originally formed in Norman Wells. When the oil and gas industry and infrastructure expanded, so did Matco.

Even during the mid-1990s, when other companies were throwing in the towel, Matco was expanding.

"The easiest thing in the world is to sell (your company's services), especially if you're backed up with confidence," said Anderson.

The company's second office was opened in Inuvik. In the 1970s, an office was established in Edmonton. Soon, there were operations in Fort Smith, Hay River, Yellowknife and Whitehorse. Calgary was added to the network in 1996.

The company now boasts a fleet of 15 tractors, 25 trailers, more than 150 containers and 50 local vans. Keeping the fleet rolling are about 150 employees with revenues growing to $20 million per year.