Medical officer of health no longer CEO of Middlesex-London Health Unit

Dr. Chris Mackie will continue to serve as the London region's medical officer of health, but his role as the CEO of the Middlesex-London Health Unit will be taken over by another administrator, Michael Clarke.

The decision was made public Monday morning.

Mackie has served as the public face of the pandemic inLondon and Middlesex County, leading daily briefings on caseloads. As the top medical official for the health unit, he's also responsible for issuing public health orders such as the directive that masks must be worn on public transit and in some businesses.

"There is still a lot of work to do in terms of the overall leadership in this pandemic," said Mackie.

Clarke has sat on the board of health for three years, and in March was hired as the vice president of modernization by the organization.

He is also an adjunct professor at Western University.

Clarke will take over the more administrative functions of Mackie's role, while Mackie focuses on the more medical aspects of his role.

Mackie was hired by the Middlesex-London Health Unit in 2013.

He refused to say whether the change in role would mean a change in salary for either himself or Clarke.