Former Whistler resident Roger McCarthy has left the Intrawest fold to become chief operating officer of Breckenridge in Colorado, a resort owned by Intrawest rival Vail Resorts. "I am delighted to be joining Vail Resorts, one of the acknowledged leaders in the resort industry," McCarthy said in a release. "Just as importantly, I am looking forward to becoming a citizen and a genuine contributor to the future success of the Breckenridge ski area and the Kingdom of Breckenridge." McCarthy left Whistler in 1991 to become became vice president and general manager of Mont Tremblant, which Intrawest purchased that year. He had most recently been senior vice president, Easter Region for Intrawest, based in New Jersey. A Feb. 23 news release from Vail Resorts indicated McCarthy will have complete general managerial authority at Breckenridge and will oversee all summer and winter resort operations. In partnership with Vail Resorts Development Company, McCarthy will also co-ordinate the potential real estate development of Peaks 7 and 8. "We are genuinely pleased to have Roger McCarthy join our senior management team and add a new perspective to our operating group," Andy Daly, president of Vail Resorts, said in a release. "He is well respected throughout the industry and has a tremendous amount of knowledge about resort operations. The ski area and the town of Breckenridge both deserve to have the best person possible in the leadership position, and Roger certainly fits the bill." Originally from New Zealand, McCarthy began his career in the ski industry at Whistler Mountain in 1973. He held various positions at Whistler Mountain through 1990, when he moved to Blackcomb Mountain to become director of human resources. In 1991 Intrawest began focussing on mountain resorts and made its second resort purchase, after Blackcomb, at Mont Tremblant. The second oldest continuously operating ski area in North America, Tremblant was on the edge of bankruptcy when Intrawest bought it. In McCarthy’s seven years at Tremblant the resort grew to become the number one rated ski resort in the East in 1996 and 1998. In 1998 McCarthy became senior vice president, Easter Region for Intrawest, overseeing six resorts in Canada and the U.S. McCarthy, his wife, Josee and their five year-old son plan to live in Breckenridge.
