Retiring Halton Healthcare President & CEO ‘caring and thoughtful’ leader
Published September 27, 2022 at 5:14 pm
In what is being called a “tremendous loss” for Halton Healthcare, president & CEO Denise Hardenne will be retiring in the spring of 2023.
Richard Nunn, Halton Healthcare’s Chair of the Board of Directors, made the announcement in a memo addressed to all Halton Healthcare staff, physicians and volunteers.
“It is with mixed feelings that I am writing to advise you that after a 36-year distinguished healthcare career and a considerable amount of thought and detailed planning, Denise Hardenne, President & CEO, has confirmed her plans to retire from Halton Healthcare in the spring of 2023,” said Nunn.
“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.”
Hardenne was appointed Interim President & CEO in March 2014 and, following a national executive search, was a unanimous choice of the Board to become President and CEO in May of that year.
Recruited from an executive role in a Saskatchewan health district, she first joined Halton Healthcare as the Vice-President of Professional Practice in August 2000.
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She was then appointed to the role of Executive Vice President in 2011.
“It has been a privilege to be part of this high performing team and lead Halton Healthcare through significant transformation and the incredible response to the global pandemic,” said Hardenne.
“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.”
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 has led organizational transformation and also successfully delivered three major hospital infrastructure projects with a total value of $3.36 billion at Halton Healthcare.
Under Hardenne’s leadership, Halton Healthcare achieved the highest standing possible from Accreditation Canada and most recently was named one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital.
She led the successful delivery of Halton Healthcare’s 2015 strategic plan, Pathway 2020, that guided the journey of transforming the community hospital experience and the development of the organization’s new refreshed strategic plan, Inspiring Care, which includes the organization’s new purpose statement “To Care”.
“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 also guided Halton Healthcare’s COVID-19 response. From the first positive case of COVID-19 in March 2020 through testing centres, vaccine delivery, congregate setting support, building internal field hospitals and creating capacity to support almost 500 transfers of patients from area hospitals throughout the GTA Hospital IMS structure.
“Denise is a caring and thoughtful leader and truly embodies the Halton Healthcare values of compassion, accountability and respect,” adds Samantha Horn, Vice Chair of the Halton Healthcare Board of Directors.
“She has worked very hard to prepare the organization to continue to excel after she retires and has been working closely with the Board to plan for this significant announcement.”
A CEO Selection Committee has been established by Halton Healthcare’s Board of Directors to oversee the recruitment process, and has engaged Promeus Inc. to initiate a search for a new President & CEO.
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