MITTIMATALIK/POND INLET
The president and CEO of the company behind the Mary River Iron Ore mine project is out.

Greg Missal, former vice-president, corporate affairs of Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., takes questions at the Nunavut Impact Review Board final hearing for Baffinland's Mary River iron ore project, on July 16, 2012 in Iqaluit. Missal was recently laid off from the company. - photo courtesy Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.

On Dec. 4, Baffinland Iron Mines announced that Tom Paddon was no longer president and CEO. He is now the company's non-executive chairman.

Brett McLeod was appointed Baffinland's acting chief executive officer as of Nov. 25.

McLeod's current role is vice-president and head of projects, strategic mine planning and technical support to the mines for Baffinland's parent company, ArcelorMittal.

The news release from Baffinland stated that McLeod will hold both roles, temporarily move to Canada and be based at the company's head office in Oakville, Ontario. Baffinland has also started looking for a permanent CEO.

NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines executive director Tom Hoefer said the falling price of iron ore was "a real kick in the pants" to companies like Baffinland trying to compete with cheaper Australian producers.

"There's folks out there that can produce iron at very low prices," he said. "They're going, we're taking that market share. And if anybody can't keep up, you close your doors, that's not our problem."

This isn't the first time this year staff at Baffinland have experienced changes.

In October, Baffinland confirmed to News/North in an e-mail that the company was reducing salaries across the company's workforce. Spokesperson Mary Carey's written statement called the decision to temporarily reduce salaries "difficult but necessary."

"This is one of a series of measures designed to improve the cost competitiveness of the operation," she said. "We continue to execute a cost-reduction plan and have announced a strengthening of the site management team. Baffinland has one of the largest highest quality iron ore resources in the world and we remain committed to the success of this project."

This isn't the only staffing change by the company. Greg Missal is no longer vice-president of corporate affairs for Baffinland. A call to his cell phone number was answered by commercial services contract specialist Arvi Narayanan who confirmed Missal was no longer employed by Baffinland.

Repeated calls and e-mails to Baffinland sustainability and reporting speciality Jennifer St. Paul Butler regarding the total number of layoffs, the new spokesperson for the company, and Greg Missal's final day at the company were not returned.