Chris Fleming Appointed SCDHB Chief Executive

28 September 2007

Chris Fleming Appointed SCDHB Chief Executive

Chris Fleming, currently director of population health, planning and performance at Australia’s Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, has been appointed chief executive of South Canterbury District Health Board commencing 5 November 2007.

Mr Fleming, 39 has extensive experience in the New Zealand health sector, including four and a half years as general manager of surgical and ambulatory care at Counties Manukau DHB’s Middlemore Hospital, five years at Hawkes Bay DHB in roles including general manager of planning and funding and chief financial officer, and two years at the former Health Waikato Ltd.

Mr Fleming holds a bachelor of business studies majoring in finance and accounting from Massey University.

South Canterbury DHB Board Chair Joe Butterfield today said that Mr Fleming had the qualities and experience to carry forward the Board’s strategic vision.

“Chris is a very experienced senior manager with particular strengths in financial and operational management. At Counties Manukau DHB, he was part of the senior executive that balanced their hospital focus with a very strong emphasis on innovation in population based and community health initiatives – which certainly is central to our Board’s strategic direction. And he has a strong record of effective engagement with senior clinicians,” Mr Butterfield said.

Mr Fleming said he is looking forward to taking up the role of chief executive.

“South Canterbury DHB is in a sound position but faces significant challenges managing demands and expectations in the future. A sustainable workforce within the hospital as well as the community and primary setting is vital in order to be able to meet this challenge. Developing new roles over time, as well as attracting and retaining our workforce will be central to this. I am committed to working with staff as well as the workforce based in the primary and community setting to ensure that the approach taken will deliver on these needs.

“Engaging with the community to develop innovative solutions to reduce the growing burden that the prevalence of chronic conditions is placing on the health service and the community will also be a key priority. While many solutions will be aligned to regional and national programmes having local engagement and commitment, tailoring these solutions to our environment is vital for success. I look forward to working across the wider community in developing and implementing these solutions.

“We also need to ensure that while the emphasis needs to move to prevention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, we are able to maintain health services to deliver to those in need. This means ensuring that the hospital and health services provided within South Canterbury, as well as those accessed outside of our immediate community, are of a high quality. The community should be proud of the facilities and services that we have, and I am committed to ensure that these are maintained and developed over time.

“On a personal front, my family and I are looking forward to moving to the community and engaging in the lifestyle South Canterbury has to offer.”

Mr Fleming will relocate shortly from New South Wales with his wife and two children. He replaces Craig Climo who left in August to become chief executive of Waikato DHB.

ENDS

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