CEO decision closer

A decision on whether chief executive Brian Rousseau will continue to head both Otago and Southland district health boards may be closer following this week's meeting of the Southland board.

Southland board chairman Dennis Cairns did not wish to give details of Thursday's discussion, which was behind closed doors, but he did say he would meet his Otago counterpart Richard Thomson in the next month.

The situation was quite complex and there were some issues to be worked through, he said.

Mr Thomson has said he considered Otago would be comfortable with either option - two chief executives or one spanning both boards, but it was Southland's call.

He felt there could be benefits for Otago in having a joint position.

Mr Rousseau has combined the chief executive roles of both boards in an interim arrangement since October, following Dr Nigel Murray's resignation to take up a position in Canada.