From the war zones to Southern Cross

Southern Cross's new chief executive, Dr Ian McPherson (pictured), acknowledges his new job is a "huge challenge" but reckons there is great potential for the organisation.

McPherson has a varied cv which includes being a general practitioner in Thames, a stint in war zones with the Red Cross, time in the Prime Minister's office and chief executive of a number of health boards.

More recently (1998) he took over as executive chairman of Aetna International in New Zealand.

The following year McPherson moved to Singapore to set up and run a health insurance joint venture between Singapore hospital group Parkway and major German insurer, Allianz.

For the past two years, he has been regional general manager of health for Allianz Asia Pacific Ltd, overseeing and managing the group’s health insurance operations in Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

He is now looking forward to returning home to take on what he considers "the most interesting job in the New Zealand health sector – running Southern Cross.

"With its insurance/funding side and the hospital division, Southern Cross is a very large organisation and one that is fundamental to the fabric of the New Zealand health system.

"It would be very difficult for the New Zealand taxpayer to deliver the public health service without Southern Cross so it does play a very important role in the system,’’ he says.

"It’s a huge challenge but there is great potential for the organisation to work together with the various components of the health sector to provide even better health care to a great many people."

Dr McPherson said two areas he would be looking at in his new role included making Southern Cross as efficient an organisation as possible and the introduction of new products.

McPherson (52) takes up the role of chief executive, which was previously held by Roger Bowie, July 24.

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