The case of the disappearing CEOs

Departures of prominent leaders suggest life isn’t so easy at the top in aged care.

By Keryn Curtis and Yasmin Noone

Above: Recently departed Director, UnitingCare Ageing, Gillian McFee

The sometimes challenging relationship between boards and CEOs is rumoured to be behind the recent departures of two prominent aged care leaders.

Longstanding Director of Australia’s largest aged care provider, UnitingCare Ageing, Gillian McFee departed early this month without any public announcement while the departure of Domain Principal Group’s managing director, Dr Greg Roder was announced last week.

Ms McFee’s sudden departure had been the subject of industry whispers for three weeks before UnitingCare NSW.ACT Board issued a statement last Tuesday 21 March.

In the statement, the board announced “the appointment of Mr David Makinson as the interim Acting Director of UnitingCare Ageing following the departure of Ms Gillian McFee as Director.”

The statement said that Ms McFee had successfully taken the organisation in a new direction.

“Ms McFee joined UnitingCare in November 2003 as the first regional director for the Ku-ring-gai Region and later rose to become the director of UnitingCare Ageing, with a brief to unify the organisation around a shared vision and values.

“Her achievements, supported by the Board and her Executive team, have taken the organisation in a new direction, enabling us to respond proactively to significant change in the health and aged care industry.”

“The future direction of UnitingCare Ageing will continue on the same path that has been forged over recent years,” said the chairperson of the UnitingCare Ageing Board, Jan Bowe.

“The board is committed to continuing to pursue its strategic intent around enabling choice, independence and well-being for people as they age,” she said. 

Ms Bowe said the process of recruiting a new director of UnitingCare Ageing will commence in the coming months.

“(…) during that time all staff will continue to ensure our day-to-day service delivery to older people in the community remains at the core of all our actions and deeds,” she said. 

Meanwhile…

One day earlier, ‘Australia’s largest privately-owned aged care provider,’ Domain Principal Group had ‘confirmed’ the departure of its managing director, Dr Greg Roder, after less than 18 months in the top position. 

The statement from Domain Principal’s Chairman, Mr Jack Ritch, said, “…Dr Roder and the board have now decided that it is an appropriate time for him to pursue other opportunities”. 

“Dr Roder will step down immediately and be replaced on an acting basis by Gary Barnier while an internal and external search is conducted for Dr Roder’s permanent replacement.

“Mr Barnier is the group’s chief financial officer (CFO) and is an experienced executive with a background in aged care and health care senior management in both CFO and CEO roles.” 

According to the statement, Dr Roder was a key driver in bringing the Domain and Principal companies together to form the Domain Principal Group in 2008. Formerly AMP Capital’s Head of Infrastructure, Australia and New Zealand, Dr Roder restructured the executive and operational teams and corporatised the group once he assumed the position of managing director in October 2009.

Mr Ritch, thanked Dr Roder for his significant contribution and wished him well for his future. Mr Ritch also reaffirmed the group’s focus on and commitment to caring for its residents, and delivering for its staff, stakeholders and investors.

“Domain Principal has undergone a lot of change and faced several challenges in recent times and I am looking forward to Gary taking the company forward in the immediate term. Gary will work closely with the management team to continue to manage the business in a manner consistent with DPG’s values.” 

“Mr Harley Wright from AMP Capital Investors will take on the CFO responsibilities on an interim basis. Mr Wright will work closely with Mr Barnier to provide leadership to the finance team and to support the group’s interactions with banks and investors.”

Mr Wright is a senior member of AMP Capital Infrastructure’s asset management team and has over 10 years of experience in financial services, with a focus in the last four years on the aged care sector.”

Domain Principal became the largest  for-profit aged care provider in Australia in January 2008 following its 100 per cent acquisition of Domain Aged Care from MFS Limited. In recent months it has received negative media coverage for non-compliance issues.

Tags: aged-care, ageing, amp-capital-infrastructure, david-makinson, domain-principal, domain-principal-group, dr-greg-roder, gillian-mcfee, jack-ritch, jan-bowe, uniting-care, unitingcare-ageing,

1 thought on “The case of the disappearing CEOs

  1. I find it interesting that at this time we see the leaders of the two peack bodies also moving on as aged care moves through another transition of change and comes under the microscope for productivity and accountability. the truth be known is that these CEO are rae to find and are not well supported.
    Leasreship in aged care is reflected on those that run the frontline, and the problems exists there.

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