IWK’s chief financial officer on paid leave following expense scandal involving former CEO

HALIFAX – The IWK Health Centre’s top financial officer is taking a paid leave of absence less than a month after the hospital’s CEO resigned amid an expense scandal.

IWK staff were informed via email on Monday by board chairperson Karen Hutt, who said CFO Stephen D’Arcy would be taking a paid leave after both he and the board came to a mutual agreement.

“He fully understands the importance of an external review and we appreciate that he wants to ensure that the integrity of this process is not compromised,” Hutt said in the email. “Dr. Krista Jangaard will follow up in the coming days to confirm interim coverage for this portfolio.”

This comes less than a month after former CEO Tracy Kitch resigned from her post before the results of an independent review showed she had used her corporate credit card to pay for thousands of dollars in personal expenses, to which she still owes more than $22,000.

The board has also reached out to the Nova Scotia’s auditor general Michael Pickup with the goal of ensuring he understands the IWK’s concerns, so that he can independently assess whether his office should conduct a performance audit of any of their practices.

The auditor general’s office confirmed to NEWS 95.7 that “several meetings have occurred with the chair and continue this week and onwards.”

In an emailed statement, the auditor general’s office said they will be releasing a report Oct. 4, and Pickup will have more to say about the IWK at that time.

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