After decades of helping steer Halton Healthcare and its hospitals, president and CEO Denise Hardenne is getting ready to retire.
In a memo to all Halton Healthcare staff, physicians and volunteers, board of directors chair Richard Nunn revealed that Hardenne is set to retire in spring 2023.
“While we are thrilled for Denise as she embarks on the next chapter of her life, her retirement is a tremendous loss for our organization,” he said.
After working in an executive role in a Saskatchewan Health District, Hardenne joined Halton Healthcare as the vice president of professional practice in August 2000.
Seven years after, she was promoted to senior vice president, and in 2011, she pursued the role of executive vice president.
In March 2014, she started a new role as interim president and CEO. In May of that year, she was unanimously chosen by the board to become president and CEO.
During her tenure, Halton Healthcare says Hardenne has overseen the organization’s progression to 5,228 staff, 931 medical and professional staff and 1,280 volunteers, and growth in operating funding to over a half billion dollars annually.
She also delivered three major hospital infrastructure projects with a total value of $3.36 billion at Halton Healthcare.
“Denise has always believed in serving patients and our communities with quality, integrated community hospital care,” said Nunn. “She is a strong supporter of collaborations and partnerships that contribute to help achieve that goal, which is why she pursued Halton Healthcare’s participation in establishing the Ontario Health Team for our communities.”
Hardenne said it has been a privilege to be part of the Halton Healthcare team and lead the organization through “significant transformation and the incredible response to the global pandemic.”
“I am so grateful to everyone at Halton Healthcare for their continued attention to living our vision of exemplary patient experiences, always. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished together.”
The board of directors has established a CEO Selection Committee to oversee the recruitment process, and has engaged Promeus Inc. to initiate a search for a new president and CEO.
