Media Release

Date: 23 February 2007

Waikato DHB Chief Executive Resigns

Waikato District Health Board chief executive Malcolm Stamp has resigned to take up a newly-created health position in England.

He has been appointed chief executive of a new London health provider agency and will leave New Zealand in May. NHS London serves 7.5 million people with a budget of NZ$39 billion.

Mr Stamp has been with the DHB since July 1 last year and was appointed following an extensive international search.

“I have enjoyed my short time in New Zealand and settled well into the DHB role,” he said today.

“The new role in London is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not resist.

“The DHB job is a fantastic one and everyone has been great in helping me settle so easily.”

DHB chairman Michael Ludbrook said he was disappointed to see Mr Stamp go after such a short time.

“He has been very quick in establishing good relationships across a wide range of stakeholders as well as addressing issues quickly.

“We know when we appointed Malcolm that his track record was of the highest order and this is demonstrated by the prestigious challenge he is now taking up in London.”

Mr Ludbrook said the board had already started the recruitment process to find Mr Stamp’s replacement.

Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) London chief executive Ruth Carnall said she was pleased with Mr Stamp’s appointment as chief executive for the NHS's London Provider Development Agency. It will be the first body of its kind in England.

Mr Stamp’s job will be to manage and develop the performance of London’s provider organisations including 26 acute trusts, 7 mental health trusts and the London Ambulance Service.

“It is a great privilege to be asked to head up the provider agency,” said Mr Stamp.

“Not only is it pioneering, it is also a great opportunity to deliver improved healthcare in London so that acute and mental health trusts are ready to take on more responsibility for their own affairs by becoming Foundation Trusts.”

Foundation Trusts win more independence from the NHS to plan their own affairs.

Mr Stamp was formerly chief executive of one of England’s first Foundation Trusts at Cambridge University Hospital. He was also chief executive at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He was awarded a CBE for his services to healthcare in 2002.

ENDS