Former St. Clair College executive named CEO of Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has named its new permanent chief executive officer.

Dr. Ken Blanchette will be taking the reins at the local health authority beginning at the end of November, WECHU announced Wednesday.

Blanchetteis currently the chair of the board of directors at Htel-Dieu Grace Healthcareand the vice chair of WECHU's Board of Health. Hepreviously served as the associate vice president and chair of health sciences at St. Clair College as well as working as the executive director at ConnexOntario, which is a provincial service connecting people with mental health, addiction and problem gambling services.

"In Ken's experienced and capable hands, theWECHU's future is bright," Board of Health chair Gary McNamara said in a statement.

"With a team of capable and professional staff, strong leadership and management, and a course set in partnership with the University of Windsor, our community will continue to benefit from exceptional public health services under his leadership."

Blanchettereplaces interimCEOEleanor Grohwho stepped into the role after Nicole Dupuis resigned from the position due to personal reasons related to her familyin August of this year.

"Eleanor has stepped in and led the great team atWECHUfor the past several weeks, and we sincerely appreciate her hard work in support of the community," McNamara said.