John Ottenheimer named CEO of housing corporation

A former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister who failed in his bid to win the partyleadership last fall has been named chief executive officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation(NLHC).

Premier Paul Davis announced the appointment on Tuesday, though Ottenheimerbegan his duties on Monday.

"As a lawyer and former cabinet minister, he has a strong knowledge of government processes and the work of departments to support clients of the NLHC," said Davis.

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Ottenheimer was one of three people in the hunt for the party leadership, but lost on an unusual thirdballot to Davis during a leadership convention on Sept. 13, 2014 in St. John's.

"Presumably the issues of homelessness, affordable housing, low-income housing, the relationship between homelessness, mental health and addictions,clearly as I see it in this early stage would be the priority issues facing the housing corporation at this time," Ottenheimer told CBC News Wednesday afternoon.

He takes over from interim CEOTom Lawrence, who isis returning to his former role with the NLHC.

• Len Simms to step down from Newfoundland and Labrador Housing

Prior to Lawrence, the position was held by another former high profile PC politician, Len Simms, who held the position for nearly nine years.

Ottenheimerwill make roughly $160,000 and said he will donate his provincial pension to charity.

"Mr. Simms, my predecessor, had done the same, and it was important to me that I did the same," he said.

"I just felt that it allowed me to have a comfort level inmovingforward with this new position."

Ottenheimeris a practicing lawyer in St. John's, a former high-school teacher and principal, as well as past chairman of the board of directors of Nalcor Energy.

He was a member of the House of Assembly from 1996 to 2007, and held several cabinet portfolios.