Community health provider confirms wholesale leadership shake-up, with a new interim CEO, the departure of its deputy CEO and board chair, and a complete renewal of its executive leadership team.
Troubled community health provider Cohealth has confirmed it is undertaking the sweeping governance and leadership overhaul called for by the independent Duckett review, including a complete renewal of its board and executive leadership.
The announcement comes just one day after Health Services Daily revealed chair Sam Sondhi appeared to have stepped away from the organisation, with Cohealth declining at the time to confirm his departure.
Today, Cohealth confirmed Mr Sondhi had “made the personal decision to step down as chair”, while announcing significant board renewal, the appointment of an interim chief executive and the departure of deputy chief executive Chris Turner after 13 years with the organisation.
The changes follow Professor Stephen Duckett’s independent review, which found serious governance and cultural failings and gave the Victorian government the option of refreshing Cohealth with “new governance and potentially, new management”. The review also recommended replacing the board.
Cohealth said recruitment was “well underway for three new board directors”, with more than 60 applications received, and described the changes as delivering “100% renewal of Cohealth’s executive leadership team”.
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Kate Gillan has been appointed interim chief executive for nine months from 1 August while recruitment for a permanent replacement for outgoing chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz is completed.
The organisation said Ms Gillan – currently an adjunct professor in the Deakin University nursing and midwifery faculty, and a former senior executive at Epworth – would work alongside Ms Bartholomeusz before her departure on 31 July “to support a smooth transition”.
It also announced plans to appoint a director of primary and community care and an interim medical lead, while creating a new executive role focused on client participation and community partnerships.
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Cohealth said it had introduced the new executive role because “clients and communities … want a meaningful say in decisions that affect their care”.
The organisation also welcomed the Victorian government’s appointment of Chris Altis as board monitor for an initial 12-month term, saying he would work alongside the board “to strengthen understanding, transparency and connection between Cohealth and government”.
Cohealth said the leadership, governance and community engagement changes formed part of its response to Recommendation 13 of the independent review and would provide “greater stability” while giving clients, communities and staff “a stronger voice in Cohealth’s future”.