Arthur Porter, CEO of MUHC, steps down

McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) board of governors accepted Arthur Porters resignation Monday.

Porter, who was named MUHCs executive director in 2004, released the leadership reins three months before his contract was set to finish.

"Having presented a vision of the future to the Board, its now an appropriate time for me to move on," he said in a statement sent to the media Monday night.

Porter is leaving MUHC less than a month after he resigned as chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), after his ties to a controversial lobbyist became public.

'Having presented a vision of the future to the Board, its now an appropriate time for me to move on,' Arthur Porter

On Nov. 14 he told CBC Montreals Homerunthat his proposed deal with lobbyist Ari Ben-Menashe was meant to secure infrastructure funding in his native Sierra Leone.

Though no money ever changed hands, Porter said he felt he had to step down from the SIRC after receiving so much bad press.

Following that resignation, the MUHC's board of directors held an emergency, closed-door meeting to discuss Porter's future with the centre.

Astatementreleased the following day states the board, "supports his ongoing efforts in leading and advancing the redevelopment of the MUHC."

Honouring Porter

David Angus, Chairman of the Board, said MUHC will host a special event in January to recognize Porter's contributions.

"The MUHC community is very grateful to Arthur Porter," said Angus in a statement. "The Board of Directors is exploring a number of ideas to pay tribute to the man who not only made the Glen Campus a reality but has also helped transform the MUHC as a whole."

Porter is credited with getting government approval for a three-site, $2.3-Billion MUHC redevelopment project.

"It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure working alongside the more than 12,000 people who make up the MUHC. Any success I have had, I share with them," said Porter ina statement.

According to the statement, Porter intends to focus on international healthcare and infrastructure development.

Normand Rinfret will replace Porter as interim director general and CEO. He has been associate executive director since 2004 and chief operating officer since 2009.