After seven years, a change is coming at the helm of the Interior Health board.
In December, Norm Embree of Salmon Arm will complete his tenure as chairman of the board and be replaced in January by long-time board member Erwin Malzer of Kelowna.
Health Minister Terry Lake said Malzer, who has sat on the board for seven years, will bring a wealth of experience to the position of chairman.
“His leadership will mean that Interior Health Board continues to provide strong strategic direction for the medical needs of Interior residents,” said Lake.
Malzer will guide the nine-member board that overseas public health issues and facilities throughout the southern Interior.
“I look forward to working with Mr. Malzer over the next several months, and supporting him, as he as he transitions into this new role,” said Embree, who sat as IH board chair since 2007.
“His experience with the Interior Health Board over the last seven years, his leadership on several of our board committees, and the valuable relationships he has built during his tenure will serve him well as he takes on the role of board chair.”
During his years on the board, Malzer has chaired the IH’s audit and finance committee and is currently chairman of the governance committee. He has also been the lead director providing board oversight for all of IH major P3 capital projects in the Okanagan, including the additions to the Kelowna and Vernon hospitals project and the new Interior Heart and Surgical Centre, which is currently under construction and set to open next September.
A seasoned management consultant and information technology executive, Malzer has consulted in health care and helped organize the annual Reboot Health Conference for the past five years.
Formerly a senior IT Partner with PwC and an executive with IBM, he had leadership responsibilities for Western Canada. He holds bachelor of commerce and masters of business administration degrees, has completed the Corporate Governance College director education program and is a certified corporate director, a certified management consultant ) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants.
