Simone Finch resigns as CEO of Bundaberg’s Friendlies hospital

The CEO of the Friendly Society Private Hospital in Bundaberg has resigned just one year after taking on the top job.

Simone Finch has resigned as Friendlies CEO.

Friendly Society Private Hospital’s Simone Finch has resigned as CEO just one year after she was appointed, citing urgent personal circumstances.

In a statement the Friendlies board said it thanked Ms Finch for her service.

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“The board wishes to advise the Friendlies community that Ms Simone Finch has resigned and finished as chief executive officer due to pressing personal circumstances that required her to urgently move interstate,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“The board thanks Simone for her service, which included steering the organisation through a successful accreditation process and creating the framework for the next strategic plan.”

The Friendly Society Private Hospital in Bundaberg West.

A decision on Ms Finch’s replacement is yet to be made.

“Chief Financial Officer James Waters has stepped into the role of acting Chief Executive Officer pending a decision on Simone’s replacement,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Waters said his immediate priorities were to reassure staff and patients that fostering the Friendlies culture was the highest priority.

“We’ve got a strong business model, dedicated staff, proud traditions and a vision for the future,” he said.

“I’m letting everyone know there will be stability and continuity, and positive engagement with stakeholders including doctors and the broader community.”

Friendlies Board members (back) Mark McLean, Dawn Murdoch and Glen Toll, and front chair Barry Dangerfield and outgoing CEO Simone Finch.

Ms Finch was first announced as CEO in January 2022 when she took over from Alan Cooper.

Prior to her appointment, she had worked as an executive across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors and had led health services in both the far north and rural Australia.

In November, the Friendlies announced it had reported a year of “consolidation and growth” despite Covid challengers.

Board chair Barry Dangerfield said in a statement at the time that the hospital was pushing ahead with bold, innovative growth in the new year.

Expansion plans are in the pipeline for a new pharmacy and GP clinic.