PFM Executive Search Places CEO at Fraser Health
November 6, 2018 – Healthcare is among the most rapidly growing employment fields, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media, which tracks trends in the executive search and leadership solutions space. A number of healthcare organizations have turned to executive search firms to find new leaders in recent months.
Recently, Vancouver, British Columbia-based PFM Executive Search placed Victoria Lee as president and CEO of Fraser Health Authority. She replaces Michael Marchbank, who recently retired. PFM partners George Madden and Shelina Esmail led the search.
“Dr. Lee has an extensive background with Fraser Health and we are excited she will be able to step into the role, where she will be able to continue to drive the positive progress championed by the organization,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “She is well known for her compassionate, focused approach in her prior role as Fraser Health’s chief medical health officer, and I feel confident in her leadership going forward.”
Fraser Health’s board chair, Jim Sinclair, said Dr. Lee is a leader, an experienced administrator, physician and researcher. “She brings with her a deep understanding of the health care system and the needs of the people within it – both those receiving care and those providing it,” he said. “Victoria is an advocate for wellness, a supporter of healthy workplaces and a well-versed authority on the social determinants of health. This is the type of person we need to continue to take Fraser Health forward. She is a natural innovator and I am excited by today’s announcement.”
Dr. Lee has a deep understanding of the healthcare system and the needs of the people within it – both those receiving care and those providing it, the firm said. She most recently served as chief medical health officer, population health at Fraser Health. Previously, Dr. Lee worked in consultative roles with national and international organizations, including the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank in the areas of comparative health systems, health policy, health financing and ecohealth. She also worked as a travel physician in rural communities in Chile and Brazil.
The Search
Fraser Health Authority engaged PFM Executive Search to create a fair, open and transparent proactive search process identifying potential CEO candidates from across Canada to take on this major leadership role. “Through the competition for the position Dr. Lee demonstrated being an advocate for wellness, a supporter of healthy workplaces and a well-versed authority on the social determinants of health,” said the search firm.
Furst Group Finds President for St. Mary’s Health System
Following an extensive nationwide search, Furst Group recruited Steven C. Jorgensen as president of St. Mary’s Health System and SVP of Covenant Health in Lewiston, ME. Mr. Jorgensen had a diverse career with the Mayo Clinic, where he served for various departments and chair of clinical operations.
Fraser Health is one of five regional health authorities in British Columbia working together with the Ministry of Health. It provides high quality, appropriate and timely health services to more than 1.8 million communities, which include a diverse multicultural population and approximately 38,100 First Nations people, associated with 32 bands.
Wide Range
PFM serves a wide range of industries, working with private, public and not-for-profit organizations to fill senior-level executive positions. Among the roles that the firm has recently filled include: director of technology services, infrastructure & enterprise applications, for Vancouver Airport Authority; chief executive officer for the BC Trucking Association; and chief financial officer for InTransit BC.
A longtime veteran of the executive search industry, Mr. Madden’s professional accomplishments in communications, public affairs and management have made him a well-known figure in the Canadian business landscape. He turns an incisive understanding of business affairs and a natural affinity for distilling complex client objectives into measurable goals and results, according to clients.
Ms. Esmail joined PFM 20 years ago as research director and became an associate partner in 2008. Before joining PFM, she was a senior research and marketing analyst for Colliers International in Vancouver and California.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
