Mr Stephen McKernan, QSO, appointed Acting Director-General of Health and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health

State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes has today announced the appointment of Stephen McKernan, QSO, as the acting Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health.

Mr McKernan is a former Director-General of Health and former public service chief executive. He is currently a Senior Partner at EY in New Zealand and is taking a leave of absence from his position to carry out the role.

“I’m very pleased to appoint Mr McKernan to this senior role given his depth of experience and background as a highly respected public servant with considerable expertise in the health system,” Mr Hughes said.

“We are moving at pace to complete the statutory process for the recruitment and appointment of the next Director-General of Health.

“Mr McKernan will have full delegations and responsibility as Acting Director-General. I have asked him to provide strong leadership to move the sector and Ministry forward.

“I expect him to hit the ground running.

“Mr McKernan has a successful career in New Zealand and continues to make a significant contribution internationally. I am pleased he has made himself available for this role. He is well placed to work with the Minister of Health and to get on with strengthening the Ministry’s work with the sector.”

The Director-General’s position will be advertised tomorrow (Friday) and an extensive recruitment process will be undertaken. The role will be advertised until the end of January.

Mr McKernan will start in the Acting Director-General position from 5 February.

The Ministry of Health is the Government’s chief advisor on public healthcare matters and seeks to improve, promote and protect the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

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