Jan Adams Denies Her New Job Linked to MOH Review
Waikato District Health Board chief operating officer Jan Adams has today strongly denied any suggestions her
appointment to a primary care strategic liaison role was in direct response to the Ministry of Health report “Review of
opportunities for the incoming chief executive” published in May this year.
“I’d like to make it really clear that I signalled more than 18 months ago to the (then) CEO, my team and to many people
in the organisation that when the build programme was finished I intended to be doing something else, looking for a new
role or staying within the district health board.
“I felt it was a natural time for me to step down as chief operating officer having completed the build programme and
also seen through a number of initiatives that we’d had in place over a number of years.”
Mrs Adams said the strategy was “well thought through” by her and her family and gave her the opportunity to continue to
work in health.
Chief executive Nigel Murray acknowledged Mrs Adams’ service at the board’s monthly meeting yesterday saying she was
moving to a new part of the organisation.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the primary health sector.”
He also paid tribute to her passion and commitment to Waikato DHB.
Board chair Bob Simcock thanked her on behalf of the board and wished her well in her new role.
One of the Waikato DHB board members Ewan Wilson provided a statement to the media on Monday only part of which was
published in local media today. In his statement he said he had found Jan Adams to be an “extraordinary leader and that
I for one am glad she’s part of our executive team in whatever role is deemed appropriate by Nigel.”