There’s a change in leadership at the North Shore Business Improvement Association following the unexpected departure of president Bryce Herman.

Vice President Andrew Watson will take over as president effective immediately, after Herman’s employment status at Chances Casino changed a few weeks ago

Executive Director Jeremy Heighton says they’ll miss Bryce’s leadership, but adds all active board members have to be representatives of North Shore businesses.

“Bryce has really helped us to formulate and compile many of our planning and execution plans for the next five to seven years,” he told NL. “It doesn’t however mean that momentum stops. The NSBIA planning process is well underway and we are moving forward, and we’ll continue to provide service to our members as we transition our board.”

Heighton says Andrew Watson helped found No Limits Fitness and owns Supplement King in Northills Shopping Centre.

“Andrew does come from a very strong financial background and as such has been serving as our treasurer for the last term,” he added, noting that a meeting on August 27 will finalize succession plans for the NSBIA board. He says that following that meeting, the board will have ‘more formalized executive.’

“Bryce is a leader in Kamloops, has been for many many years. We do wish him a speedy resolution to his current situation, but want to assure everybody that we are continuing to work in the best of best interest of both the North Shore and Kamloops as a whole.”

Reached for comment by Radio NL, Bryce Herman said he wouldn’t be commenting on his departure on the advice of a lawyer.

In a statement, Andrew Watson too noted that Bryce’s contributions to the NSBIA has been significant, and that his presence on the board will be missed.