Media Release

Date: 30 May 2007

Craig Climo New Waikato DHB Chief Executive

Craig Climo, currently chief executive at South Canterbury District Health Board, has been appointed chief executive at Waikato District Health Board.

Mr Climo, 48, has been CEO at South Canterbury for more than nine years and has represented DHBs nationally in various roles.

He has spent 14 years in hospital and DHB management and comes from a commercial background.

Highlights of Mr Climo's tenure with South Canterbury DHB include overseeing the redevelopment of Timaru Hospital in 2000, steering the DHB to a break-even financial position each year since 2000, and consistently achieving among the highest per capita access rates to elective surgery in New Zealand.

Mr Climo has a Bachelor of Business Studies and an MBA.

Waikato DHB board chairman Michael Ludbrook today said Mr Climo was a quality candidate who would bring valuable experience to the job.

"Of the big DHBs Waikato is the one that I've most admired over the years. It has a good reputation and I'm looking forward to being part of the organisation and community," said Mr Climo.

He replaces Malcolm Stamp who left after nine months to return to the UK.

ENDS