SÁÁ leadership changes create unavoidable uncertainty, chair says
Wednesday 9th September 2026 on 13:01 in
Iceland
SÁÁ chair Anna Hildur Guðmundsdóttir says the departing chief executive requested to leave the post, while declining to comment on the terms of individual employment or termination agreements, mbl.is reports.
Asked whether the departure of much of the organisation’s senior management had disrupted daily operations, Guðmundsdóttir said leadership changes inevitably created uncertainty and that SÁÁ did not underestimate their impact.
She rejected the suggestion that the departures were linked to a decision by the board.
Ásgerður Th. Björnsdóttir has taken over temporarily as chief executive. Guðmundsdóttir said strong managers would ensure the continued provision of services to SÁÁ’s clients.
She said SÁÁ was introducing changes to its organisation and administration to meet requirements under laws and agreements.
“It is clear that the executive management is responsible for overseeing the implementation of agreements, which is part of normal management responsibility,” Guðmundsdóttir said. “That does not mean interfering with the professional independence of healthcare workers, and the board has not done so.”
Guðmundsdóttir said the chief executive’s role was clearly defined and that the post carried responsibility for all daily operations in cooperation with other managers. She also rejected claims that the board had sought to intervene in individual professional decisions concerning the organisation’s healthcare services.
About 100 people work for SÁÁ. Asked whether further resignations were expected, Guðmundsdóttir said no employees had been dismissed by SÁÁ.
“The priority is to create stability and ensure that staff have the calm and support they need to perform their work,” she said.
She acknowledged concerns about the organisation’s image and reputation following repeated disputes between the board and senior managers.
“Of course,” she said. “Improving the organisation’s public image and internal communication has been a central task for those of us who have served on the board in recent years. We take this situation very seriously.”