New President and CEO at St. Joe’s London

LONDON, Ont. – The St. Joseph’s Health Care London Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Roy Butler (pictured) to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 3, 2021. Following a search process with significant interest from remarkably talented leaders, “we have without question found the best leader” to continue to build on the legacy and outstanding achievements of St. Joseph’s,” said St. Joseph’s board chair, Howard Rundle.

With more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience at St. Joseph’s, Roy is highly regarded as a collaborative and engaging leader. His steadfast commitment to partnering with patients, residents and caregivers has been instrumental in positioning St. Joseph’s as a leader in this area through his executive leadership of one of four provincial Change Foundation funded initiatives designed to enhance and elevate care partnerships.

Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, St. Joseph’s President and CEO since 2010, said, “I am thrilled that Roy has been chosen to lead our organization into the next phase of its future. Roy’s tireless dedication and drive has fueled innovative practices and provincially recognized initiatives, not just within our walls, but for the communities we serve as well – a true testament to our mission and values of respect, excellence and compassion.”

In his current role as vice president, patient care and risk management, Roy’s innovative and collaborative leadership played a critical role in the establishment of the Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity at Parkwood Institute and the opening of a new Palliative Care unit and two Operational Stress Injury Clinics. In addition, he has championed significant improvements in staff engagement and quality outcomes across the organization.

Prior to his current position, Roy held executive leadership roles with accountability for corporate strategic planning and the development of organizational quality strategies. He was the executive sponsor for the Accreditation Canada survey when St. Joseph’s achieved its first two of three consecutive awards of Accreditation with Exemplary Standing.

Committed to the development of strong collaborative partnerships that further the mandate of St. Joseph’s, Roy is currently the executive lead of the regional South West Frail Senior Strategy and is the incoming Chair of the Ontario Hospital Association’s Rehabilitation and Complex Care Provincial Leadership Council.

“I am honoured to have the privilege of leading St. Joseph’s into the future during a time of significant transformation in healthcare,” said Butler. “My leadership passion is rooted in achieving academic and clinical excellence in service to our patients, residents and families and fostering an engaging and innovative environment for our dedicated staff, physicians and volunteers. It is with great pride that I continue to be part of the St. Joseph’s family in this role.”

Roy Butler holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Queen’s University and a PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Western University. As a volunteer in support of his local community, Roy coached competitive youth soccer for several years and served in various roles with the United Way. He currently sits on the London Community Recovery Network and is an active member of the Board of Cheshire Independent Living Services.