WILLEMSTAD, 4 di febrüari 2025 – Hunta di Supervishon ta kontentu di anunsiá Sr. Johan de Graaf komo e Direktor General nobo, entrante 1 di aprel 2025. E transishon di liderazgo aki ta krusial ya ku CMC ta sigui fortalesé su kompromiso pa duna kuido di kalidat haltu na e komunidat di Kòrsou. Sr. Gilbert Martina lo renunsiá dia 30 di yüni 2025 na momentu ku e alkansá e periodo máksimo di 8 aña pa su nombramentu.

Komo parti di e transishon di liderazgo ku tu tumando luga, Hunta di Supervishon ta reflehá riba e kontribushonnan di Sr. Martina i e kaminda pa dilanti ku Sr. de Graaf.

“Ta ku sintimentunan miksto Hunta di Supervishon ta kompartí ku boso e kambio den e presidensia di e Direktor General di CMC. Di un banda e despedida di Sr. Gilbert Martina no ta fasil pa nos. El a dirigí CMC pa 8 aña. Esaki tabata 8 aña remarkabel, spesialmente pa motibu di e pandemia di COVID-19 ku a marka e komienso di e hòspital nobo, pero tambe pa motibu di e liderazgo inspirativo di Sr. Martina, bou di kua CMC por a enfrentá e krísis. Banda di esei CMC a konfrontá difikultatnan finansiero, ku te ainda ta tumando luga. Kòrsou awor tin un hòspital nobo i moderno, pero finansieramente ainda e tin ku opera bou di un kuadro regulatorio antikuá. Esaki ta krea tenshon i ta stroba e ambishonnan di e pais. Ta trahando pa aktualisá e kuadro aki i nos tin konfiansa ku e resultado lo ta benefisioso pa un i tur, spesialmente e komunidat di Kòrsou, pasobra ta pa esei nos tei. Lo duna Sr. Martina un despedida públiko apropiá mas den transkurso di e aña aki.

Di otro banda, Hunta di Supervishon tin konfiansa den e nombramentu di Sr. Johan de Graaf komo Direktor General nobo. Nos a haña un Direktor General nobo digno di Sr. Johan de Graaf. Un Direktor General ku lo sostené loke sr. Martina i su tim di maneho a logra durante e último 8 añanan, na su manera, pero tambe introdusí inovashonnan. Un di e prioridatnan klave di Sr. de Graaf ta su kompromiso pa kompartí mas tantu di su ekspertisio komo gerente di hòspital ku potensialnan haltu denter di CMC. Di e manera aki, Hunta di Supervishon ke sòru ku e próksimo vakatura di CEO lo inkluí kandidatonan kualifiká i dispuesto for di den CMC, en partikular un yu di Kòrsou. Nos ta yama Sr. de Graaf bon biní!”

Sr. Johan de Graaf tin mas ku 35 aña di eksperensia komo lider di organisashonnan di kuido, ku un estilo di liderazgo basá riba integridat i kolaborashon. Durante henter su karera, e tabata komprometé na mehorá kuido, promové inovashon i enkurashá dinámika fuerte denter di tim. Posishonnan anterior ku el a okupá ta inkluí miembro di e hunta di direktiva di grupo di kuido ZorgSaam i liderando vários proyekto di kuido denter di e sektor di defensa. Sr. De Graaf ta bon posishoná pa hiba CMC den su siguiente fase, kombinando su eksperensia amplio ku su kompromiso pa sostené talento lokal i konstruí un futuro fuerte pa CMC.

Hunta di Supervishon i CMC ta ekspresá nan sinsero gratitut na sr. Gilbert Martina pa su esfuersonan dediká komo CEO. Bou di su liderazgo, CMC a hasi progreso remarkabel pa bira un lider den fasilidat di kuido den Karibe. Su kompromiso i kontribushonnan kontinuo tabata krusial pa e kresementu i stabilidat di e hòspital. Sr. Martina ta wak bèk riba su periodo komo Direktor General:

“Tabata un berdadero plaser pa mi por a dirigí e formashon i komienso di e hòspital general nobo di Kòrsou durante e ultimo 8 añanan. CMC ta un hòspital ku e empleadonan i habitantenan di Kòrsou por ta orguyoso di dje. Apesar di tur e retonan ku a presentá na kaminda, manera e finansiamentu adishonal di ANG 200 mion durante e periodo di transishon, e optimalisashon di diagnóstiko di laboratorio mesora despues di e apertura, e pandemia di COVID-19 for di mart 2020, un presupuesto di kuido insufisiente di un promedio di ANG 50 mion, un skarsedat di trahadónan di kuido i e introdukshon di e lei di LNT, ku tabatin un impakto grandi riba e retenshon, reklutamentu i selekshon di spesialistanan médiko, CMC a duna kuido hospitalario na tur ku tabatin mester di dje. E promedio di 8.5 pa satisfakshon di pashènt i un tasa di mortalidat di 2.5% pa fin di 2024 ta indikadónan klave di e logro kolektivo eksepshonal aki. Nos tur por ta orguyoso di CMC, pa Kòrsou i Karibe, tin un hòspital! Mi ta entregá e presidensia na Johan ku hopi konfiansa i mi ta konvensí ku e por realisá e rumbo stipulá pa hasi CMC e mihó hòspital den Karibe dor di, entre otro, optené e akreditashon prestigioso di JCI. Sinembargo e no por hasi esaki su so i e mester di sosten di tur stakeholder interno i eksterno. ‘Si bo ke bai lihé, bai bo so, si bo ke bai leu, bai huntu’ – un dicho bieu afrikano. Nos ke yega mas leu posibel pues nos tin ku sigui e trayekto aki huntu.”

Sr. de Graaf a ekspresá su kompromiso ku futuro di CMC i a enfatisá e responsabilidat i balornan ku lo guia su liderazgo:

“Komo preparashon pa e funshon honorabel aki, mi a wòrdu informá profundamente riba e retonan ku a surgi i ta sigui surgi diariamente. Mi tin un atmirashon imenso pa e logronan di Curaçao Medical Center i pa e dedikashon di tur su empleadonan, den tur ròl, ku ta dediká tur dia pa hasi nan máksimo esfuerso pa duna kuido di kalidat di mas haltu posibel na tur habitante ku ta dependé di dje. E responsabilidat pa kolektivamente duna e mihó kuido posibel na esnan ku ta vulnerabel pa motibu di malesa òf leshon, ta e forsa impulsivo den mi karera i lo keda mi enfoke komo un kolega nobo na CMC. For di promé instante mi a eksperensiá den vários ròl, ku e responsabilidat aki por ta eksigente i tin bia por kousa strès. E eksperensianan aki a reforsá mi kontundensia ku konfiansa, ta habri i integridat ta balornan esensial pa promové kolaborashon fuerte. Na mes momentu, mi tin ‘big shoes to fill’ ora mi wak e logronan i dedikashon di Gilbert. E retonan pa garantisá kontinuidat di kuido den e hòspital vital aki pa Kòrsou i region ta signifikante. Mi ta kompletamente komprometé na usa mi eksperensia i energia pa e hòspital i su hendenan Esaki ta enserá tambe maneho di suseshon, edukashon i desaroyo di talento lokal, pa bira futuro lidernan trahando huntu ku tur empleado di CMC. Mi ta spera di mira bo pronto!”

E transishon aki ta marka un kapítulo nobo i emoshonante pa CMC. Segun ku hòspital ta kontinuá ku su mishon pa duna kuido ekselente na komunidat di Kòrsou, Hunta di Supervishon i personal tin konfiansa den e liderazgo i vishon ku Sr. de Graaf lo trese. CMC ta komprometé na fortalesé su posishon komo un lider den dunadó di kuido di salú den Karibe i e futuro ta mustra briante bou di e liderazgo nobo aki.

WILLEMSTAD, February 4, 2025 – The Supervisory Board is pleased to announce Mr. Johan de Graaf as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) , effective April 1, 2025. This leadership transition is crucial as CMC continues to strengthen its commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to the community of Curaçao. Mr. Gilbert Martina will step down on June 30, 2025, upon reaching the maximum 8-year term for his appointment.

As part of the ongoing leadership transition, the Supervisory Board reflects on the contributions of Mr. Martina and the path forward with Mr. de Graaf.

“It is with mixed feelings that the Supervisory Board shares with you the change in the chairmanship of the CEO of CMC. On one hand, the departure of Mr. Gilbert Martina is not easy for us. He led CMC for 8 years. Those were 8 remarkable years, especially due to the COVID pandemic that marked the beginning of the new hospital, but also because of the inspiring leadership of Mr. Martina, under which CMC was able to face the crisis. Additionally, CMC has faced financial difficulties, which is still ongoing. Curaçao now has a new and modern hospital but still has to operate financially under an outdated regulatory framework. This creates tension and hinders the ambitions of the country. Work is underway to update this framework, and we are confident that the result will be favorable for everyone, especially the community of Curaçao, because that is whom we do it for. Mr. Martina will be given a fitting public farewell later this year.

On the other hand, the Supervisory Board is confident in the appointment of Mr. Johan de Graaf as the new CEO. We have found a worthy new CEO in Mr. Johan de Graaf. A CEO who will uphold what Mr. Martina and his management team achieved over the past 8 years, in his own way, but also introduce innovations. One of Mr. de Graaf’s key priorities is his commitment to sharing as much of his expertise as a hospital manager as possible with high potentials within CMC. In this way, the Supervisory Board aims to ensure that, when the next CEO vacancy arises, there will be qualified and willing candidates from within CMC, particularly ‘Yu di Kòrsou.’ We warmly welcome Mr. de Graaf!”

Mr. Johan de Graaf has over 35 years of experience in leading healthcare organizations, with a leadership style grounded in integrity and collaboration. Throughout his career, he has been committed to improving healthcare, promoting innovation, and fostering strong team dynamics. His previous roles include serving as a member of the board of directors at ZorgSaam Care Group and leading several healthcare projects within the defense sector. Mr. de Graaf is well-positioned to lead CMC into its next phase, combining his vast experience with his dedication to supporting local talent and building a strong future for CMC.

The Supervisory Board and CMC extend their heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Gilbert Martina for his dedicated service as CEO. Under his leadership, CMC has made remarkable progress toward becoming a leading healthcare facility in the Caribbean. His unwavering commitment and contributions have been instrumental in the hospital’s growth and stability. Reflecting on his tenure, Mr. Martina shared:

“It has been a real pleasure for me to have led the establishment and opening of the new general hospital of Curaçao over the past 8 years. CMC is a hospital that the employees and the residents of Curaçao can be very proud of. Despite all the challenges that have arisen along the way, such as additional financing of ANG 200 million during the transition period, optimization of laboratory diagnostics immediately after the opening, COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020, an inadequate healthcare budget of an average of ANG 50 million annually from the opening, scarcity of healthcare personnel and implementation of the LNT law which has had a major impact on the retention, recruitment and selection of medical specialists, CMC has provided hospital care to anyone in need of hospital care. The average of 8.5 for patient satisfaction and a mortality rate of 2.5% at the end of 2024 are key performance indicators of this exceptional collective performance. We can all be very proud of CMC, for Curaçao and the Caribbean, there is a hospital! It is with great confidence that I hand over the chairmanship to Johan and I am convinced that he will be able to achieve the set course to make CMC the best hospital in the Caribbean by, among other things, achieving the prestigious JCI accreditation. However, he cannot do it alone and will need the support of all internal and external stakeholders. ‘If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together’ – an old African saying. We want to get as far as possible so we have to continue this journey together.”

Mr. de Graaf expressed his commitment to CMC’s future, emphasizing the responsibility and values that will guide his leadership:

“In preparation for this honorable role, I have been thoroughly informed about the challenges that have arisen and continue to present themselves daily. I have deep admiration for the achievements of the Curaçao Medical Center and for the dedication of all its employees, in every role, who strive each day to give their best and provide the highest quality care to all residents who depend on it. This responsibility to collectively deliver the best possible care to those who are vulnerable due to illness or injury is the driving force in my career and will remain my focus as a new colleague at CMC. I have experienced firsthand, in various roles, that this responsibility can be demanding and at times under pressure. These experiences have strengthened my belief that trust, openness, and integrity are essential values for fostering strong collaboration. At the same time, I have big shoes to fill when I look at Gilbert’s achievements and dedication. The challenges in ensuring the continuity of care at this vital hospital for Curaçao and the region are significant. I am fully committed to contributing my experience and energy to the hospital and its people. This also includes succession management, as well as the education and development of local talent, to become future leaders working together with all CMC employees. I look forward to seeing you soon!”

This transition marks an exciting new chapter for CMC. As the hospital continues its mission to provide outstanding care to the community of Curaçao, the Supervisory Board and staff are confident in the leadership and vision that Mr. de Graaf will bring. CMC is dedicated to strengthening its position as a leading healthcare provider in the Caribbean, and the future looks bright under this new leadership.