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Media Release

Date: 20 February 2009

Waikato Chairman Retires From Board

Waikato District Health Board chair Jerry Rickman today announced he would retire from the board next month.

He told Health Minister Tony Ryall he was retiring to remove any "perceived conflicts" between his role as chair and his on-going work as a consultant to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Hamilton.

"Given some of the difficulties over conflicts of interest at other DHB boards in recent times I do not want to place the Government and you, as minister, in a position where there is the potential for public embarrassment," he said in his resignation letter (attached).

"It has been an even more difficult decision when I know that we are on track to deliver the health improvements you are looking for."

Mr Rickman became Waikato DHB chair in November 2007. Earlier that year, from March to August, he filled in as acting chief executive officer.

"In that role I came to know the quality of the staff well at Waikato DHB and I want to acknowledge their commitment," he said today.

"It is a very good DHB and I will continue to take a close interest in its success. We're all there with a common cause to make it happen and there is a top-to-bottom commitment to improve health outcomes for the region we serve.

"For me there is a sense of disappointment because I've taken the decision to retire from something I was really enjoying," he said.

Mr Rickman said when he first became chair he disclosed his links to PwC with the then Minister of Health and always removed himself from any discussions or decisions involving the firm. In addition the board's audit and risk committee referred the issue to the Office of the Auditor General who was comfortable with Mr Rickman's stance.

Waikato DHB has used the PwC Auckland office for some years. PwC moved into the Waikato two years ago when it acquired Beattie Rickman, a firm founded 75 years earlier. Mr Rickman had then recently stood down as managing partner and was replaced by his wife Julie who is now managing partner of PwC Hamilton.

Waikato DHB chief executive Craig Climo said he was disappointed to see Mr Rickman go.

"He's an excellent chairman. His commercial and financial skills are unique on the board and we needed him with the big programme we have of redevelopment and quality improvement.

"In practice there wasn't a conflict of interest as he deliberately had no involvement whatsoever in discussions or decisions on the use of management consultants, but he is sensitive to the difficulty in overcoming perception and obviously wasn't prepared to put people's reputation at risk."

Deputy chair Sally Christie said the board had every confidence in Mr Rickman and his leadership.

"However we respect his decision to retire. He will be sorely missed by everyone."

Mr Rickman's last meeting as chair will be on 11 March.

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