Untapped potential lures chief

CHANGE: Andrina Romano, QE Health's new chief executive, sees plenty of opportunity for growth. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 240914SP3

Andrina Romano was on the top of a mountain in Italy when she flicked off a job application to be the general manager of Rotorua's QE Health.

But it wasn't until she booked herself in for a spa treatment, after finding out she was shortlisted, that she saw the true potential of the service.

Ms Romano said that secret-shopper visit before accepting the role cemented that QE Health was a place she wanted to run - a place with plenty of "untapped potential".

She said while they'd never get back to where it had been as a massive hospital in its early days, they could certainly lift and improve on what it was doing now and evolve its offerings heading into the future.

"There is huge potential."

Ms Romano signalled the medi-spa and holistic health as real areas where there could be growth. While she has been in the job less than a week, she believed there was already potential for new services and jobs in the future.

"I am very keen to have the opportunity to lead the organisation and build the profile of QE Health amongst both the local community and visitors to Rotorua."

Hailing from Scotland, Ms Romano was working in the health management field in Hamilton before moving to Rotorua. Her last job was with NorthCare medical centres in Hamilton which she described as "a site for new ideas and new innovation".

"I'm not afraid of change, and I think if I'm not afraid the team can realise it's not a scary concept." She said she wasn't looking for a new job when the opportunity came up but the lure of Rotorua, particularly the lifestyle, was strong.

"We spend most weekends over here already since my partner is an avid mountain biker, so to have the opportunity to accept the QE Health general manager role and to relocate our family is a win-win all around."

QE Health board chairman Paul Sampson said there was considerable interest in the role and they were delighted to have received such high calibre applicants for the position.

"This is a very exciting time for Andrina to be joining the QE Health team given the work that has been done over the past months to position QE Health as a provider of excellence to local, national and international clients in the fields of rehabilitation, musculo-skeletal conditions and rheumatology."

He said she brought considerable health sector and business management expertise including strengths in quality systems, change and project management, building high performing teams along with business and strategic planning experience.

Mr Sampson has also announced the appointment of two new directors to the board, Sandra Kai Fong and Julian Inch, who replace John Crean and Peter Lewis.