Southern Cross Healthcare make strategic appointment with new CFO

Southern Cross Healthcare has appointed Peter Gudsell as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Southern Cross Healthcare CEO Chris White said Gudsell’s appointment fills a key role in delivering the ‘Reimagining 2033’ 10-year strategy that aims to drive performance and support future growth.

"Peter brings to Southern Cross Healthcare a huge amount of experience as a CFO and a senior financial leader across multiple sectors, I’m very pleased we have attracted someone of his calibre as this role will make a crucial contribution to our future success,” White said.

“His fresh insight into the healthcare sector and his financial expertise, leadership, and strategic transformation experience, broad skills, and background, not only positions him well for his leadership role in the finance team but will be valuable across the growing number of business ventures within the wider Southern Cross Healthcare network.”

Most recently, Peter has been Group CFO of Auckland Council and was involved in the Council Group of businesses, including Auckland Transport, WaterCare, Eke Panuku, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Port of Auckland, along with Auckland Airport. He was also CFO of Christchurch City Council and the University of Auckland.

Gudsell said he is excited about the new role and joining the healthcare sector. Finding out that Pause Breathe Smile, the mind health programme for children in schools across the country, is funded by Southern Cross also piqued his interest.

“Southern Cross Healthcare is such an important part of the healthcare sector, and influences tens of thousands of people’s health outcomes across the motu,” Gudsell said.

“The clincher for me was the passion of the people I met who really do care about what they do and why they do it. Southern Cross Healthcare feels like it is building great momentum and I find that exciting.”

Gudsell started the role on 4 March.