But he is looking forward to the challenge.
Health Minister Tony Ryall rang Errol Millar on Monday night to tell him he was replacing chairman Richard Thomson.
Mr Millar said he had not put himself forward and had in fact been thinking he could be asked to step aside as an appointed board member if Mr Ryall wanted to appoint a chairman from outside the present board.
It took four days of hard thinking about the difficult circumstances in which he would be taking over the chairmanship, along with his own personal situation, before deciding he would be interested.
Some of the hurdles facing Mr Millar include not only leading the board to tackle large budget blowouts but also stepping into the wake of popular support for Mr Thomson.
Several board members and senior staff had spoken out publicly in support of Mr Thomson, with many saying his sacking would be unfair and political grandstanding to remove him.
Mr Millar said while some people would be concerned about the way Mr Thomson was removed, the reality was it was the minister's right to dismiss or appoint chairmen.
"Without sounding completely cold-hearted about it, life has got to go on.
"We need to put it behind us, but let's not forget that Richard has done a great, fine job. I think the public of Otago owes Richard a great debt of gratitude for his energy and his commitment."
While he had not yet spoken to all board members, those he had spoken to at yesterday's Community and Public Health Advisory Committee meeting had expressed sadness for Mr Thomson, but also offered their support and said "they would stand by me", Mr Millar said.
"There was not a single negative comment made to me."
Mr Millar said he "most emphatically" had confidence in chief executive Brian Rousseau and did not see the need for any more heads to roll.
Mr Millar, aged 62, is Dunedin born and bred and now living on the outskirts of Patearoa, "in the middle of Maniototo", where his wife's family have farmed for generations.
He was educated at Otago Boys High School and has an accounting degree from the University of Otago.
After working in Wellington at the Ministry of Transport for 14 years, he become a management consultant and now describes himself as a professional director.
He is the chairman or director on 11 boards, including health, aviation and business interests.
He has never been a member of a political party and had been appointed to various public institutions by both National and Labour Governments, he said.
He was appointed to the Otago District Health Board in 2007 and was appointed to the Southland District Health Board in 2002 and 2004.
