Message #77439

[Atlanta Z3]

There really isn't any way to get him to committ to time you set aside for him.  While there is truth that you can't manage someone who doesn't want to be managed there are sublte ways.  Ask in advance if he wants to be reminded of the next meeting if time is running over on a current meeting.  (Two fold keeps the people who are waiting happy and lets the current meeting members know they can't just run over.) 
5 minutes in the morning to give the day's events a run through, even if this is while he is in the car driving to work, or on the way to another meeting.  I would also look at a project management tool for your industry or even a share point site or help organized documents, team calendars etc.  In six years I'm sure you know his management style and can fashion yours after his for the most function.
Blocking out a large segment of one day is probably not the best method, it may be easier to block out an hour here or there.  If I were trying for that method, I would have a weekly or monthly meeting with his calendar and ask which times I could block from meetings knowing that some days would have to be fluid.