Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) has appointed its next president and CEO.
Kristin Kennedy will take the reins effective April 2026.
Since 2020, Kennedy has served as president and CEO of Erie Shores Healthcare, following her tenure as chief nursing executive.
Her appointment comes at a pivotal time for WRH as the organization advances plans for a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital for Windsor-Essex.
The WRH board said Kennedy’s experience and vision will help position the hospital for the future, ensuring stability and progress as the region prepares for its next era in health care.
Current acting president and CEO Karen Riddell will remain in her role through the transition before retiring in spring 2026.
The leadership search began in September after David Musyj confirmed he would stay in London, and Riddell's retirement looming.
Speaking on AM800's Mornings with Mike and Meg, Kennedy said through her current role at Erie Shores, she has sat on the one of the partner planning committees for the new hospital.
"So I'm well aligned with what's been happening over the years and Karen, David and I have been working through some transition plans and we'll continue that over the upcoming months. Really exciting and proud time for Windsor-Essex," she said.
Kennedy said there are some exciting announcements on the horizon.
"We know that we've shifted to infrastructure Ontario having oversight, and the Ministry of Health, and it's just such an exceptional time and I'm so excited to be able to take on the reins of all of the work that Karen and David have done. We have a really great team at Windsor Regional Hospital that have been overseeing that project for a few years now," Kennedy said.
Kennedy said prior to her time at Erie Shores, she previously spent five years at WRH.
"I was a manager of the neurosciences program, a director of critical care and cardiology. Actually under the leadership of Karen so this is a really full circle moment for me," she said.
Erie Shores HealthCare has confirmed Kennedy will remain in her role there until March 22, 2026.
The organization released a statement congratulating Kennedy in her new role and said its board intends to name an interim CEO later this winter.