Alberta Health Services releases severance details for former health CEOs

EDMONTON, AB - Alberta Health Services Board has released information on severance packages to eight former chief executive officers (CEOs) dismissed July 8, 2008 as part of restructuring health care services in Alberta.

"The former executives are receiving compensation in accordance with the specific terms of their individual contracts," said Board Chair Ken Hughes. "The Board has met these obligations and is further releasing details of the senior leadership team in keeping with our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability within the system."

The details of the severance packages for the former CEOs are as follows:

CEO Summary of Severance

• Calgary - $1,703,332
• Alberta Mental Health Board - $549,493
• Capital - $1,510,819
• Peace Country - Not settled
• Northern Lights - $562,825
• Alberta Cancer Board - Not settled
• David Thompson - $893,984
• Palliser - $699,305

Severance packages include part year bonus (April 1, 2008 to date of termination) where applicable and the value of lost pension for the period of notice. Salaries and supplementary pension amounts until the date of termination will be reported as customary in the 2008-09 audited financial statement for each entity.

The 2008-09 compensation for current Alberta Health Services executive personnel is:

Alberta Health Services Executive Salaries

• Chief Executive Officer (Interim) $550,000
• Executive Operating Officer - Continuum of Care $515,000
• Chief Financial Officer (Interim) $345,555
• Chief Operating Officer - Corporate Services (Interim) $394,200
• Chief Operating Officer - Urban $439,985
• Chief Operating Officer - Rural & Community $290,212
• Senior Operating Officer - Rural & Community $240,000
• Chief Operating Officer - Planning and Programs (Interim) $305,000

Individuals in roles reporting to the CEO have been seconded from their positions within their respective health region or board entity until April 1, 2009. Their pension, benefits and annual remuneration arrangements remain unchanged from their respective previous employer.

The Alberta Health Services Board has recently completed an open tendering process calling for requests for proposal from qualified executive search and management firms to conduct searches for the CEO and the interim senior executive leadership positions, and to review existing compensation plans for management employees and provide advice regarding the appropriate compensation for executives.

• View News Release 
• View Severance Update 

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For further information, please contact:

Mark Kastner
Executive Director, Media Relations
Alberta Health Services Communications
Phone: 403-816-3762 or 780-974-4658