Health-care bosses from across the country, and even internationally, competed for the top spot at Hamilton Health Sciences.

But in the end, the province's second-largest hospital system picked a successful local leader who has no health experience but long-standing relationships with key players locally and provincially.

Former Burlington mayor Rob MacIsaac will leave his job as president of Mohawk College Feb. 1 to lead Hamilton's largest employer, made up of seven hospitals, a cancer centre and an urgent care centre.

"I have a learning curve I have to climb and I want to be clear that I understand that," said MacIsaac. "This is my fifth career. I'm starting to get used to switching sectors. It's always daunting going into a new sector, but I'm confident I can do it."

MacIsaac will make between $540,000 and $650,000 a year depending on performance.

That's more than double his current wages. He says his contract will be available online within days.

It's an almost identical salary to retiring president and CEO Murray Martin, who made $647,465 in 2012 plus $36,543.63 in taxable benefits.

HHS board chair Paul Chapin acknowledged MacIsaac's lack of hospital experience was questioned by the search committee, but in the end they decided the $1.2-billion superhospital had more than enough health-care knowledge in the current executive team and needed a proven community builder at the helm.

"What Rob brings to the table is leading complex organizations and helping them grow," Chapin said. "Rob has all the skills to get (HHS) to the next level."

It's a departure from when Martin was appointed 13 years ago. He was a veteran health-care executive with leading stints at four Canadian hospitals before coming to Hamilton from Vancouver.

Since taking the top job, he's peer reviewed two other Ontario hospitals and was the supervisor of Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

"It's definitely big shoes to fill," said Kevin Smith, CEO and President of St. Joseph's Health System. "When I think about where HHS was when Murray started, he's had a huge impact."

Smith says MacIsaac is a "great choice" for Hamilton's next health-care leader.

"The last thing HHS is lacking is people with health-care experience," said Smith. "He's excellent to work with … he knows the community … he's demonstrated he can make the transition between sectors."

MacIsaac has been president of Mohawk for almost five years, gaining respect communitywide for overseeing $80 million in rebuilding the Fennell Avenue campus, significantly improving the school's rankings, increasing student success rates and putting more emphasis on health and technology education and research.

"Rob's left us with a lot of success," says Ryan Chow, president of the students' association. "It's time for him to move up in the world to make a bigger impact."

Before leading Mohawk, he was chair of Metrolinx, which is the transportation authority of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. He served three terms as Burlington's mayor from 1997 to 2006. He has strong connections with the community, the provincial government, city council and key health-care leaders which he believes will be a major asset to HHS during turbulent times for health care.

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"When you look at the challenges with health care, there is no doubt it's going to have to be transformed," said MacIsaac. "Health care is going to have to be community based."

Hospital budgets are expected to be frozen for the next three years while costs rise by about 10 per cent so some outside perspective is needed, says Smith.

"He can bring solutions from other domains. Real innovation comes from out-of-the-box thinking."

Front-line workers are optimistic about the appointment.

"I'm hopeful he'll be a forward-thinking CEO," said Dave Murphy president of Local 7800 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. "He did some progressive things in Burlington and I hope he can do the same here. I hope he can stand up for the health-care system and the workers."

Nurses believe it might bring an end to HHS being the only censured hospital in Ontario.

"I'm looking forward to working with him towards removing the censure," said president and Hamilton nurse and president of the Ontario Nurses' Association. Linda Haslam-Stroud.

MacIsaac was chosen by a search firm that shortlisted 10 candidates in just over a year. The hiring committee interviewed the best four leaders.

"I'm really excited about the job," said MacIsaac. "I think it's going to be a big challenge. It's a wonderful opportunity."