The Otago-Southland Cancer Society has appointed Mike Kernaghan its new chief executive, and has moved on from the issues around the resignation of his predecessor, says chairman John Walsh.
Wendy Houliston resigned in April after what Mr Walsh described at the time as "philosophical differences" with the society's board.
Mr Kernaghan said he was excited to be appointed to lead an organisation that made a difference in people's lives.
Mr Kernaghan was formerly deputy chief executive of Badminton New Zealand.
He has also been deputy chief executive of New Zealand Football, and chief executive of Triathlon New Zealand.
For several years, Mr Kernaghan has commuted to Wellington and Auckland for his roles with sports bodies.
He will now be based permanently in Dunedin.
Mr Walsh told the Otago Daily Times yesterday the society was looking to the future with the appointment of a new chief executive.
Candidates for the role were of a high calibre and the society was "quite surprised" by the quality, he said.
The role of chief executive had been altered, to be less focused on everyday decision-making, and more on strategy.
This was not because of the issues between Mr Kernaghan's predecessor and the board, but to make the society's structure more corporate, Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said it would be for Mr Kernaghan to define the role, and he might like to change its terms.
Demand for the society's services was growing "exponentially" as cancer became more prevalent.
In April, the board reinstated and apologised to five Wanaka volunteers who were dismissed in June, 2009, after querying how the proceeds of a fundraising run were spent.
At the time Mr Walsh refused to comment on a connection between Ms Houliston's resignation and the dismissals.
The volunteers had asked questions about how the society was using the $210,000 raised at the 2009 Central Otago Relay For Life in Cromwell.
