Horizon Health Network CEO Karen McGrath, Vitalité Health Network CEO Gilles Lanteigne and Health Minister Ted Flemming at an announcement in Fredericton, N.B. concerning nurse practitioners on Monday, January 27th, 2020. (Twitter)
The president and CEO of the Vitalité Health Network has announced his retirement.
Gilles Lanteigne will be stepping down in October although his current contract was set to end in August.
The board of directors says he will stay until October 20 to give a six month period to find a replacement.
Some municipal leaders had recently called for Lanteigne to resign after a controversial plan was revealed to close emergency rooms overnight at several small hospitals.
Premier Blaine Higgs says he was surprised by his retirement.
“I got to know Mr. Lanteigne a little bit over the last year. I certainly recognized the dedication he had to the Vitalité health system and to our health system as a whole,” he noted.
But Higgs says he doesn’t believe the retirement is connected to the recently cancelled health care plan.
“His work with the Board of Directors has been exemplary and allowed us to improve our governance system. I know that I am not the only one who is grateful to him, and I would like to thank him for his entire contribution” added board chairperson Michelyne Paulin.
