PROFILE (August 26, 1991)

Early this year, nickel giant Falconbridge Ltd. placed a new man at the helm. Frank Pickard, 57, who has been with the company since the 1950s, succeeded Alex Balogh to become president in January. Some wonder if Pickard will continue in the footsteps of Bill James who managed Falconbridge before the takeover by partners Noranda Inc. and Trelleborg in late 1989. Others question if the new owners, each with 50% interest, would impose conflicting policies on Falconbridge.

Contrary to skeptics’ anticipation of discord, the Swedish-Canadian union has worked smoothly, Pickard told The Northern Miner in a recent interview. “Both Noranda and Trelleborg leave Falconbridge to operate as Falconbridge as long as the company turns a profit and manages well,” he says. “So far we have been profitable.”

Pickard continues James’s effort to promote efficient, low-cost operations. “It was a lot easier for Bill to trim 2,500 people off a 5,500-employee staff in the nickel operations,” Pickard adds. “If I let go 2,500 of the remaining 3,000 people, I would not have any production crew left.”

As a negotiator, Pickard attempts to master James’s art of convincing “all parties involved that they have obtained the best part of the deal.” As well, both men are frugal travellers, taking subways instead of limousines from airports to hotels. They live in executive suites only if they are offered at regular room rates.

Pickard’s style of management, however, differs from that of James. “Bill did not go through the normal procedure of getting answers,” says Pickard. “I would tend to call the management of the plant, but he would phone the operators involved.”

To maintain contact with individuals, Pickard visits them in person. This year, he has already been to every sales office and operation plant across the globe except those in Zimbabwe.

Among the company’s assets, the operations at Sudbury, Ont., and Kidd Creek at Timmins, Ont., are the most important in terms of cash flow and profitability. It also owns 56% of Falconbridge Gold.

Exploration remains a vital part of the company, which plans to spend $21 million on the Raglan sulphide nickel deposit in the Ungava region in northern Quebec — an area inhabited by Inuits. The company’s ultimate objective is to have a largely Inuit workforce for the project, says Pickard. Born and raised in Sudbury, Pickard received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from Queen’s University in 1957. He and his wife, Audrey, have two daughters.

Pickard notes the lack of cheap hydroelectric power, complicated application procedures for permits and high labor cost have put Ontario mining in a precarious situation. To maintain its competitive edge, Falconbridge strives to increase productivity by means of better

machinery and different mining as well as processing methods.