The president and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is stepping down from the top job next month to join the province’s Ministry of Health.
Mary Ackenhusen’s last day at the health authority is set for June 30, according to a May 19 memo obtained by Business in Vancouver.
The new position with the Ministry of Health sees her serving as senior executive in residence focused on innovation.
“This is an exciting new role that aligns with Mary’s commitment to transformation and innovation – two foundational shifts we have made at VCH over the years due to her steady focus,” VCH chairwoman Penny Ballem stated in the memo.
She goes onto state VCH’s board of directors will be announcing an interim president and CEO in the coming weeks.
The departure comes as B.C. grapples with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed the lives of 143 people in the province as of May 18.
Ballem stated in the memo that with the flattening of the curve and given the board’s confidence in VCH’s executive leadership team, the timing was right to share the news of Ackenhusen’s departure.
