Southern District Health Board deputy chief executive Lexie O'Shea will be acting chief executive until Brian Rousseau's replacement is appointed.
Mrs O'Shea, who is also Southland chief operating officer, said she was pleased to be appointed to the interim role.
She will spend three days a week in Dunedin, and two in Invercargill, and believed she would be in the role for "a number of weeks".
As deputy CEO, she was used to working in Dunedin, as well as her base in Invercargill.
Yesterday, board chairman Joe Butterfield declined to discuss the recruitment process, which will be discussed at tomorrow's board meeting in Queenstown, in the public-excluded section.
Mrs O'Shea said the extent to which she would drive changes requested by the National Health Board to address Dunedin Hospital's problems would be up to the board.
"It's important to keep progressing as we wait for the appointment of the new CEO."
She will take up the role when Mr Rousseau departs on September 16.
Regional chief nursing and midwifery officer Leanne Samuel will be acting Southland chief operating officer while Mrs O'Shea is acting CEO.
Other managers were also stepping into interim roles during the period, which was a good opportunity for them, she said.
She said several farewell functions were being held throughout the region for Mr Rousseau.
