Bernard Lord appointed as Medavie CEO

MONCTON, NB, June 15, 2016  /CNW/ -Medavie announced today that Bernard Lord has been appointed CEO effective September 1, 2016. 

"We are thrilled that Bernard will become the new CEO of Medavie at this exciting time in our company's history," says Michael Decter, Chair of the Board for Medavie.  "Bernard's leadership, vision and track record of innovation make him the ideal leader to help Medavie strengthen its position and realise its full potential. He was chosen to lead Medavie in this pivotal role, providing strategic leadership to further Medavie's vision to transform primary health care."

Bernard Lord is a prominent Canadian leader with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.  In addition to serving on the Board of Medavie for 8 years and helping to shape its vision, he brings a keen understanding of health policy, deep experience running complex organizations and a passion for improving health care delivery.

Lord was the successful candidate in a competitive national search process led by the Board and Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette and initiated after the announcement that Pierre-Yves Julien would retire after more than two decades with the company.

"I am looking forward to leading a dynamic national company with roots in Atlantic Canada and immense potential to improve health care delivery," says Bernard Lord. "Pierre Yves and the team have grown the organization to become a leader in the industry with a focus on innovation, and I want to build on that legacy."

Lord will be based in Medavie's Moncton Corporate Office.

About Medavie

Medavie is a health company. We integrate benefits management, health management and health care delivery through two operating companies, Medavie Blue Cross and Medavie EMS. Together, with our more than 6,000 employees, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that will help build a healthy Canada. And from our perspective, this will require Canadians to think about health care differently.

With over one million cardholders and the country's leading Blue Cross Plan, Medavie Blue Cross is a not-for-profit organization that provides health, dental, travel, life and income replacement products to small and large companies and individual customers. We also administer various government sponsored health programs on behalf of provincial and federal governments, including Veterans Affairs Canada, and Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada.   

Medavie EMS is the largest provider of Emergency Medical Services in Canada and largest ambulance operator in Massachusetts. Our operations span ground and air ambulance services, medical communications, clinical training, and community health solutions.

Our commitment to a different kind of health care is further evidenced in the Medavie Health Foundation, where we channel 10 per cent of annual net income to improve the health of Canadians in the areas of child and youth mental health and type 2 diabetes.

Bernard Lord

Chief Executive Officer, Medavie

Bernard Lord will become Chief Executive Officer, Medavie effective September 1, 2016.

Most recently as President and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunication Association of Canada and Chair of the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada, Bernard brings a depth and breadth of knowledge from his various roles spanning more than twenty years in the public and private sectors.  He also serves as Chair of the Ontario Power Generation and is a former Director of Medavie Blue Cross.

He has worked with several corporations and non-profit organizations including as Senior Counsel with the law firm McCarthy Tétrault (2007-2008), Special Advisor with the McGill University Health Centre's Institute for Strategic Innovation and Analysis (2007-2012) and North American Advisor with Alexander Proudfoot (2009-2015).

Bernard Lord became one of Canada's youngest Premiers in 1999. His majority government was re-elected in 2003 and he served as Premier of New Brunswick until October 2006. He was elected four times as a Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.

His leadership and vision were characterized by a balanced approach of pursuing economic success and social progress while ensuring that government lived within its means. He is recognized as a national leader and consensus builder for his work with the Council of Federation and The Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

In 2000, he received the title of Grand Officier de l'Ordre de la Pleiade from the International Association of Francophone Parliamentarians. He also received honorary doctorate degrees from University of New Brunswick, l'Université de Moncton and Saint Thomas University and he is a member of the Order of New Brunswick.

He holds Bachelor of Social Science in Economics and Bachelor of Law LL.B. from l'Université de Moncton. He was admitted to the New Brunswick Law Society in 1993 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011. He continues to be a member of the NB Law Society and the Canadian Bar Association.

Bernard and wife Diane have been married since 1990 and have two children.

SOURCE MEDAVIE BLUE CROSS

Image with caption: "Bernard Lord, CEO, Medavie (CNW Group/MEDAVIE BLUE CROSS)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160615_C1085_PHOTO_EN_714300.jpg

Media Contact: Aaron Veinotte, Senior Communications Advisor, Medavie Blue Cross, 902-496-7060, [email protected]