Preston Swan has been confirmed as the new chief operating officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board after more than three years acting in that position.

Mr Swan, who has worked with the BHB since 1989, will be responsible for facilities management, pathology, imaging services, pharmacy, property management, security and hotel services departments, as well as the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.

He said: “With the benefit of three years acting in the role, I’m looking forward to focusing full time on the COO responsibilities.

“There are exciting plans around energy sustainability that we are working on, the continued implementation of the MWI directorate plan, as well as many improvements under way in hotel services and other facility improvements.

“I’m grateful for the continued collaboration and support from the departments I work with as we continue in our pursuit of excellence.”

Mr Swan started at the BHB as a mental health nurse and was promoted to unit co-ordinator in 1993. He went on to be named a clinical co-ordinator of the Community Homes Programme in 1996 and the clinical director of Turning Point in 2004.

He was later named vice-president of quality and risk management in 2008 and the vice-president of clinical operations at MWI in 2017 and took on the additional role of acting BHB COO in 2021.

With his formal appointment as COO, Mr Swan will no longer hold the additional role of vice-president of clinical operations with the BHB, stating that a “competitive recruitment process” will take place to find his successor in that post.

Scott Pearman, the chief executive and president of the BHB, said: “Mr Swan has successfully acted as COO for the last three years, while also continuing with his responsibilities as vice-president, clinical operations.

“He has earned this appointment through all the challenges of Covid-19 and beyond and will now be able to focus on the key responsibilities of the COO.

“It is gratifying to see someone of Mr Swan’s calibre come through the succession planning process at BHB. He brings to this position a wealth of experience at BHB in patient care and with many successful achievements.

“I’m extremely pleased to formally welcome him to the role.”