EGHS Board president Matthew Wood announced on Wednesday that Andrew Freeman would take the top job on an interim basis.

Mr Bush is taking up a position as chief executive of Echuca Regional Health next month.

Mr Wood said Mr Freeman would remain in place as interim chief executive while the board completes a recruitment campaign for a new permanent chief executive,

Mr Freeman is currently working as director of strategic projects with Western Health.

Mr Freeman has previously been chief executive of Djerriwarrh Health (2015 to 2018) and chief executive of Benalla Health (2011 to 2015), while from 2010 to 2011 he worked as deputy chief executive/chief operations officer at Northeast Health Wangaratta.

Mr Freeman is an Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Management, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Associate Member of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants

Mr Wood said the board was delighted to appoint Mr Freeman as interim chief executive

“Andrew is a highly regarded chief executive and brings to EGHS a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership skills,” Mr Wood said.

“We look forward to welcoming him to the health service and him assisting the board through the recruitment of a new chief executive.”

Mr Freeman said he was pleased to be appointed to EGHS and looked forward to maintaining the momentum the board developed in being a leading rural health service.

Mr Bush’s resignation as chief executive will come into effect on Thursday following eight years in the role in the Ararat region.

An EGHS statement in Aprils said that during Mr Bush’s time in the job, the organisation was recognised as a high achiever in in the health sector and had been a winner or top finalist for many statewide awards.