The Insurance Corporation of B.C. has a new interim CEO.

Almost one month after the departure of its former President and CEO Paul Taylor, ICBC has named a successor.

Geri Prior, who has been with ICBC for 21 years, will lead the Crown corporation on an interim basis.

Taylor's April departure came on the heels of a scandal in which employees in an ICBC repair shop in Burnaby sold rebuilt cars without telling the new owners about the damage histories.

On Jan. 24, three weeks before his new employer approached him, Taylor learned about the racket being run out of the ICBC research centre.

Then came a headhunter for the NaiKun Wind Energy Group, seeking to persuade Taylor to give up the ICBC presidency for one at NaiKun. The company later set an April 4th deadline - and he jumped ship, despite the storm.

The former ICBC head denied his departure was linked to the car re-sale controversy, which some say is the biggest scandal to hit the Crown corporation in B.C.'s history.

ICBC spokesperson Doug McClelland says it is unfortunate Taylor left, but the company welcomes its new CEO.

"It's regrettable that Paul did leave," he said. "Paul was a strong president in many ways, but has moved onto an opportunity in the private sector and we certainly wish him well."

McClelland could not say how long Prior will remain in her new post. The Crown corporation has hired Ray & Berndtson, an executive recruitment firm, to conduct a search for a permanent president and CEO.

"She is an excellent candidate to serve as interim CEO," McClelland said. "She's been on the executive committee for seven years and she's been with the company for 21 years."

Prior has previously led ICBC teams in change management, cost containment and planning. She has also worked in various roles in audit after joining the Crown-owned insurer in 1987.

Before joining ICBC, Prior held a number of financial, audit and operational positions with Touche Ross & Co.

She was born and raised in Vancouver and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce - Administration and Management Information Systems from UBC in 1983. She became a chartered accountant in 1986.