Keiko Nakamura, Toronto Community Housing's Chief Executive Officer, left, and David Mitchell, Chair of Toronto Community Housing's Board of Directors attend a press conference to announce the company's response to the report made public by Toronto auditor-general Jeff Griffiths in Toronto, February 28, 2011.Fernando Morales/The Globe and Mail
The embattled agency in charge of Toronto's social housing has appointed an interim CEO to replace Keiko Nakamura, who was turfed earlier this month after city council ousted the group's board over a damning Auditor-General's report.
Len Koroneos, the chief financial officer at Toronto Community Housing Corp., will take the organization's reins as former councillor Case Ootes, who is temporarily overseeing the corporation, searches for new board members. Mr. Koroneos will also continue to act as CFO.
The new board is expected to pick a permanent successor for Ms. Nakamura by the end of the year.
"Mr. Koroneos will be working with the executive team and staff to move the company forward by building on its current strengths and fostering new ideas for our business operations," Mr. Ootes said in a statement. "He will ensure that Toronto Community Housing continues with its vision of providing Torontonians with quality affordable housing."
Mr. Koroneos has been with the TCHC since September of last year.
The TCHC said Mr. Koroneos held several senior management positions at a large North American health-care company before joining the agency.
His LinkedIn account lists the Ontario Long Term Care Association, Extendicare Health Services and KPMG among his former employers.
He has an accounting background, holding a chartered accountant designation and a business administration degree from the Schulich School of Business.
Mr. Koroneos starts his new job next Monday. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday evening.
The TCHC, Canada's largest landlord, has been embroiled in controversy since Auditor-General Jeffrey Griffiths slammed its spending and procurement practices. While board members, along with Ms. Nakamura, maintained they knew nothing of the apparent problems, city council dissolved the board after a fractious meeting and appointed Mr. Ootes as managing director in its place.
He has been acting as the sole person in charge of the $6-billion corporation since Ms. Nakamura was fired. He is being paid $25,000 to run the housing corporation for a maximum of three months.
With a report from Adrian Morrow
Patrick White