Geneviève Biron will head Santé Québec

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press Geneviève Biron, formerly of Biron Groupe Santé

Isabelle Porter in Quebec

Published at 11:48 a.m. Updated at 2:54 p.m.

• Quebec

Geneviève Biron, formerly of Biron Groupe Santé, will lead the new Santé Québec agency. The current CEO of the University of Montreal Hospital Center, Frédéric Abergel, is also appointed executive vice-president by Ms. Biron.

The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, has made the announcement in the afternoon, in Quebec, in the presence of the new elected official in the organization's premises.

Ms. Biron was for fifteen years at the head of Biron Groupe Santé, a Quebec company specializing in private medical imaging and sleep care services, among others. Since her departure in 2021, she has led the Propulia Capital investment platform.

Her priority as president and chief executive officer (PCD) of Santé Québec is to improve access to services, she argued during the announcement. “I was often the one to whom the most difficult situations were entrusted,” she also mentioned.

Minister Dubé highlighted her leadership qualities and was delighted with the duo she would form with Mr. Abergel as vice-president. The latter will have the role of coordinating the 38 CEOs. Integrated Health and Social Services Centers (CISSS).

The appointment of the PCD was made official during a special meeting of the Council of Ministers, Monday morning.

The identity of the person chosen had remained confidential until now, although persistent rumors had it that it was the outgoing president of Ivanohé Cambridge, Nathalie Palladitcheff, who was leaving office in recent days.

The new state-owned company Santé Québec must take charge of the day-to-day management of the health system during this year. Approximately 700 employees of the Ministry of Health are transferred there.

The complete integration of the teams at Santé Québec must take place in the fall and the transition will end in April 2025.

More details will follow.