Stephen Lockwood appointed new AHS chairman

Stephen Lockwood was announced on Tuesday as the new chairman of Alberta Health Services.

Lockwood takes over from Catherine Roozen, who became interim chair after Ken Hughes stepped down to run in the provincial election.

Roozen will remain vice-chair of the AHS board.

Lockwood is a lawyer and president and co-CEO of Mullen Group Ltd., an Okotoks trucking and logistics company. He first joined the AHS board in 2010 and will begin his three-year term as chairman on Tuesday.

"Throughout my tenure as chair I will continually focus on the principle of achieving total Albertan satisfaction with Alberta Health Services," he said.

"Now this includes satisfaction from our workforce, our patients, their families and all of the communities in which we serve."

Lockwood admits he donated to the politican campaign of former AHS chairman Hughes. Hughes was elected the MLA for Calgary-West in April and is now a cabinet minister in the Redford government.

Lockwood also donated money to a Wildrose candidate which he believes makes him apolitical.

The Health Quality Council of Alberta is also getting a new chairman. Dr. Tony Fields, an AHS vice-president, will now lead the board.