How much is too much?: REAL CEO runs consulting company on the side

After Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) CEO Tim Reid was called out in the Experience Regina report for having too much on his plate, questions are swirling about his consulting company.

Reid was hired as the REAL CEO in 2017 and has since been front and centre at many city events, including the Queen City Ex, Iceville, Frost and, recently, helping to head the Catalyst Committee to investigate possible large projects for city council.

Reid is also usually among the top-paid employees for the City of Regina, dropping to fifth-highest paid in 2022 after hitting No. 2 in 2021.

In addition to everything he has to do for REAL, which now includes Tourism Regina, Reid is also president of a consulting company, Orange Crow Leadership. Its website appears to show it as a project management company which can be hired to help manage large facilities, projects and events.

The company’s website lists Reid as its president but doesn’t mention whether there’s any other staff. It has a long list of experience, including the Brandt Centre and the AffinityPlex under arenas, Mosaic Stadium and the AffinityPlex under stadiums, and the NHL Heritage Classic, Canadian Western Agribition and Canada’s Farm Show under events.

REAL board chair Wayne Morsky has confirmed Orange Crow has never been contracted for work by REAL.

In his report about the Experience Regina incident, the investigator pointed out several times the lack of supervision and leadership that led to sexualized slogans being included in the campaign, and in particular, the amount of work Reid had to split his attention between.

Also in that report, the investigator mentioned Reid’s consulting company and that the limited compensation REAL could provide to a CEO was mitigated by allowing Reid to keep his consulting business, as long as the work wasn’t in conflict with his new role.

Morsky confirmed that the board knew about Reid’s business when he was hired, but said he wouldn’t speak to Reid’s contract.

“It’s not a secret that Tim does head another organization and we believe that that comes to us with an advantage. When he was hired, that was one of the things that was talked about, and it’s very clear that if there’s ever a conflict of interest, it’s declared, but there has not been that at all,” explained Morsky.

He said there’s a lot to do at REAL and Reid has reduced his work with Orange Crow due to that workload. Morsky said he doesn’t know anyone who puts in more hours a day than Reid.

“He’s usually the first one there and he’s, by far, the last one to leave – and it’s not just five days a week,” said Morsky.

REAL’s board doesn’t believe Reid’s other business gets in the way of things at REAL and Morsky said it isn’t a concern of the board’s.

Reid declined a request for an interview for this story; requests were directed to Morsky.

Questions

A CEO also having a company on the side, like in this situation, isn’t unreasonable, according to Richard Powers, associate professor at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Powers said, from his resumé posted online, Reid has extensive experience and was likely a good get for REAL.

“The real question is, to what extent is he continuing to run his consulting firm, Orange Crow, while he’s still president and CEO of REAL District?” asked Powers.

Powers said most employment contracts would require that any paid outside activities would have to be disclosed to the board.

“The board would have to be comfortable that his main job that they’ve hired him for is being met and that any work that Orange Crow is going is not in conflict, or taking away from his responsibilities with REAL District,” said Powers.

He said credit should be given to the board to assume it has done just that.

There could be a conflict that could come up between what Reid’s company does for others and what he does for REAL, or if Orange Crow was bidding on work at REAL – and Morsky has said Reid’s company has not been given any contracts by REAL.

“As long as Orange Crow is not bidding on any contracts, again all on the up and up, I think there’s no conflict and there’s no perception of a conflict,” explained Powers.