2007 Media Releases

Jeff Todd, CBE, has been appointed Chairman of the Southern Cross Medical Care Society on the retirement of long-serving Director and Chairman, Dr John Matthews.

Mr Todd has been a Director since 1998 and Deputy Chairman since 2004. His appointment was effective from July 1.  He has a long-standing interest in health care and health research with directorships of the Auckland Medical Research Foundation, the Goodfellow Foundation, Christian Healthcare Trust and the National Research Centre for Growth and Development based at the Liggins Institute.

Mr Todd paid tribute to Dr Matthews who has served on the Board since 1994 and since 2004 has been Chairman.

“He has contributed much to Southern Cross’ development. He leaves Southern Cross in a very strong position following a period of rapid growth and we thank him for his years of dedicated service.”

Dr Douglas Baird has also been appointed to the Board to fill the casual vacancy created by Dr Matthews’ retirement.  Dr Baird is the immediate past Chairman of the Independent Practitioners Association Council (IPAC) and the current Chairman of Homecare Medical. 

Dr Baird was a founding Director of ProCARE Health and has served in a number of elected and advisory roles with the Auckland District Health Board, the ACC Medical Misadventure Unit and the office of the Health and Disability Commissioner.  A Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs, he has been in general practice since the late 1970s.   Dr Baird’s appointment goes forward for ratification by Southern Cross members at the Medical Care Society’s Annual General Meeting in October.

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