Latest sector appointments
Bethanie’s acting CEO secures top job; Georgie Harman appointed new beyondblue CEO; Calvary Wakefield Hospital appoints international executive.
How secures top job at Bethanie
Large WA aged care provider Bethanie has appointed its acting CEO Christopher How permanently to the top position.
The board unanimously agreed to keep Mr How in the role after considering an “impressive” range of suitable candidates, said chairman Barry Honey.
Mr How began his career as a care worker and registered nurse at the Churches of Christ Homes at Carinya (now known as Bethanie on the Park) in 1990 then progressed to management roles in the private sector and in health care.
He has been acting CEO at Bethanie since January this year following the departure of Stephen Becsi.
Mr How has been with Bethanie since November 2008, serving as the provider’s Chief Operating Officer – residential division and in other management roles.
Announcing the appointment, Honey said: “This was not a decision that the Bethanie Board took lightly. We carefully considered many appropriate applicants and decided Christopher How was the best candidate. Given Mr How’s substantial involvement in the organisation’s journey to date, as well as his deep understanding of Bethanie and aged care in general, we are confident that Bethanie will flourish.”
Mr How said he looked forward to launching Bethanie into its “next significant expansion phase.”
Bethanie is WA’s largest not for profit aged care and retirement living provider.
Mr How is also a national director of aged care peak body Leading Age Services Australia and a past president of LASA WA.
New CEO for beyondblue
Deputy CEO of the National Mental Health Commission, Georgie Harman, has been appointed as beyondblue’s new chief executive officer.
Ms Harman, who has held positions in the public service, community and not-for-profit sectors, was selected from more than 70 applicants, said beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett.
Ms Harman replaces Kate Carnell AO, who has left to take on the CEO role at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mr Kennett said that the board thanked Ms Carnell for her outstanding service to the organisation. “Kate has left the organisation in a much stronger position than when she arrived, and it is well placed to continue its work in the future.”
Ms Harman said that she was very excited to take up this new position. “beyondblue is a wonderful organisation that has huge potential to continue making a significant difference to those affected by mental health issues,” she said.
She will start her appointment in early May.
Calvary Wakefield Hospital appoints international executive
National provider of hospital, aged and community care Calvary has appointed Robert Wise as CEO of Calvary Wakefield Hospital in South Australia.
Mr Wise will return to Australia from the UK where he has held the positions of non-executive director and CEO of Spire Healthcare, the UK’s second largest private healthcare provider.
Calvary National CEO Mark Doran described the appointment as a “significant coup” for the organisation considering Mr Wise’s considerable international and local experience as a healthcare senior executive.
In Australia, Mr Wise has previously held the position of CEO at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital from 2000 to 2002 and was chief operating officer for private hospital operator, Affinity Health.
