Three top employees at Metro Vancouver's transit authority have been let go from their jobs.

Long-term employees Sheri Plewes, Terry Peterson and John Madden were all TransLink vice-presidents.

The trio has been replaced by other employees within the organization.

TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie told ctvbc.ca the cuts are an effort to reduce "redundancies" within the corporate structure and have nothing to do with a recent provincial comptroller report questioning the number of high-paid executives.

"This is the process that started a year ago now," he said.

"We're not finished yet. This is all part of the process of looking at alignment. We're really refining our IT and human resources and capital management areas."

Plewes had worked as VP of capital management and engineering since 1999, with responsibilities including the design and construction of all transit operations.

John Madden joined the company as VP of human resources and public safety in 2005 while Terry Peterson became the company's first corporate chief information officer in April 2008.

The executives will receive a financial compensation package but Hardie did not provide specifics. Compensation details will be made public in its annual report in April 2010.

Hardie said staff shuffling is only one approach the company is taking in an effort to reduce its deficit, now pegged at roughly $74 million.

"We have not been hiring as people leave," he said, adding there are currently 23 empty positions.

"Every vacancy is an opportunity to save."

Shake up

This is the second major shake up in a month for TransLink's executive structure.

Last month, CEO Tom Prendergast resigned as company president and returned to New York City to run its public-transit system

Prendergast was recruited in July 2008 from New York City, where he was the senior vice president of the city's subway system.

Ian Jarvis, TransLink's chief financial officer, is now serving as interim president & CEO.

Jarvis previously served as TransLink's chief operating officer and as vice president of finance and corporate services for Coast Mountain Bus Company.