New CEO for Counties Manukau DHB

Fepulea’i Margie Apa has been appointed Chief Executive Officer for Counties Manukau District Health Board, effective 3 September. 

Announcing the appointment today, Board Chair Vui Mark Gosche said South Auckland faces an exciting and dynamic future and the appointment of Ms Apa as the new CEO for Counties Manukau Health reflects the importance the Board places on addressing the health needs of the whole community.

 “Our community is growing fast, we are youthful while also rapidly ageing, and we are ethnically diverse.  This diversity creates opportunities but also some challenges as we grow our capacity to keep up with demand.

“We recognise that many of our vulnerable families experience both health and social hardship.  Improving equity is a priority for this Board.”

Mr Gosche said Ms Apa has more than 20 years experience in the New Zealand health and wider state sector, both in Wellington and Auckland, including five years as Deputy Director-General Sector Capability and Implementation at the Ministry of Health, and as an executive at Capital & Coast DHB.

Her experience also includes advisor roles in the Health Funding Authority, Labour Market Policy Group and State Services Commission, and she holds voluntary governance roles in the not for profit sector.

Ms Apa’s most recent position is Director, Population Health and Strategy at Counties Manukau Health.  

She says she is pleased to take up this new challenge. 

“It is a privilege to be able to bring my many years of experience to serve in an important role in the very community I grew up in.  This role has all the head, heart and soul elements that are important to me.

“It is an even greater privilege to continue to work alongside my colleagues, the many health professionals who faithfully serve this community every day.” 

Ms Apa replaces Dr Gloria Johnson who has been Acting CEO since April 2017.

 “On behalf of the Board and our staff I wish to thank Dr Gloria Johnson for her leadership during what has been a challenging time for the DHB,” Mr Gosche said. 

“We are very pleased that she will continue to be part of the leadership team when she returns to her role as Chief Medical Officer.”

*Fepulea’i is an honorific (chief title) from Ms Apa’s family home of Sale’aula, Savai’I, Samoa.