EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services’ Board of Directors has selected Egon Zehnder International to help them find a new President and CEO.
Former CEO Stephen Duckett was dismissed on November 24th on the heels of a controversial cookie exchange with the media.
After a daylong meeting organized to draft solutions to overcrowding and lengthy waits plaguing many Alberta hospital emergency wards, Duckett refused to answer questions from reporters, telling them repeatedly, "I’m eating my cookie."
Video of the exchange went viral on the Internet, while Premier Ed Stelmach characterized Duckett’s comments as "offensive."
Four of Alberta Health Services’ 14 board members resigned after Duckett’s departure. Several of them accused the government of interfering with the arm’s-length board.
In a farewell speech to senior medical leaders in December, Duckett accused the provincial government of neglecting investment in seniors care, the former health regions of lacking transparency, and the media of falsely portraying him as a single-minded budget cutter. He also indicated he felt he was misled about the province’s financial state when he was recruited to lead the newly amalgamated health organization.
During his Dec. 6 speech, the ousted health executive acknowledged his cookie remarks were a mistake. However, he contends the Alberta government had advised him for the past few months "to be less accessible" to the media.
The troubled state of Alberta health care dominated political debate in late 2010 and garnered dozens of headlines.
The search for the new President and CEO will begin immediately with a successful candidate expected to be selected early this year.
Dr. Chris Eagle has stepped in as the interim President and CEO.
With files from Postmedia News
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