Healthlink appoints new CEO

Australasia’s largest Health IT network, HealthLink, has appointed Aucklander Michelle Creighton as its new chief executive officer.

Michelle joined HealthLink’s Auckland office in 2012 as finance manager and has previously worked as a business analyst in various information technology companies.

HealthLink is the largest provider of clinical messaging services in New Zealand and Australia.

Michelle says she’s looking forward to her new role as CEO, which she officially started on 28 November.

“It’s a great honour and responsibility to pick up the reins of the company. I’m truly excited to lead a team with the vision and dedication to keep HealthLink firmly at the forefront of the changes and opportunities in healthcare integration.

“I never lose sight of the fact that we have a serious responsibility to the health sector to maintain our core services on which the sector relies,” she says.

Michelle says she’s excited about leading HealthLink into the next stage of its journey.

“There are so many opportunities available and I see my role as an enabler, clearing the way for our teams to innovate and optimise our delivery internally and externally.

“HealthLink is the trusted name in health system integration. We seek to maintain and build on that reputation. We will do that with a focus on our core strengths and developing richer collaborative partnerships across the sector,” she says.

The 51-year-old South Aucklander says her commercial and financial background has helped her understand the need to balance great ideas with sustainability.

She says the ever-increasing availability and affordability of digital platforms is already profoundly changing health IT in New Zealand.

“There are many advances that will contribute to shape how the future unfolds, much of it still uncertain. However, in spite of all the new technologies that become available, I believe the future of Health IT will continue to be shaped through effective, successful partnerships across the sector. We plan to play a key role here.”

Spending time out of the office, making new connections and developing partnerships across the sector will be a priority for her.

“I look forward to collaborating with, and learning from, those with experience who can help us understand the problems we’re trying to solve,” she says.

“HealthLink delivers an integral and trusted component of our health system. We have an obligation to make good decisions that ensure we continue to serve the sector well, long into the future.”

She takes over the role from long time CEO Tom Bowden, who co-founded the company in 1993.

“The board members and I have enormous confidence in Michelle and I look forward to working closely with her over the next three months as I transition out of the company,” says Tom.

Tom will take up a role next April as an independent consultant to national and state government organisations seeking to design and implement e-health strategies.

Irish global healthcare technology specialist Clanwilliam Group took a majority shareholding in HealthLink in September 2017, adding to its growing family of New Zealand and Australian companies.

Howard Beggs, CEO Clanwilliam Group, says: “We look forward to this new chapter under Michelle’s very capable leadership and would like to take this opportunity to thank Tom for everything he has accomplished as founder and CEO of HealthLink.”

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