On Thursday, September 5, the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) celebrates the arrival of its new President and CEO, Tamás ("Tom") Zsolnay, by hosting a meet-and-greet with local media.

“After a lengthy search process, the Board is delighted to welcome Tom to the role,” says Liz Wilson, Chair UHKF Board, “With his depth of fundraising experience and impressive track-record of motivating and encouraging teams to achieve ambitious goals, we are confident that he is coming to us at the right time in UHKF’s history.”

Zsolnay has made the cross-country journey to Kingston from the University of Victoria where he served as Associate Vice-President, Alumni & Development. During his five years there, he led a team of more than 50 staff to almost double fundraising revenues from $10 million in 2013-14 to $18.8 million in 2017-18.

Previously, Zsolnay had been Executive Director of University Advancement at Laurentian University for more than a decade. Among his many achievements, he led the largest fundraising campaign in the University’s (and North Ontario’s) history, raising $65.5 million. 

In addition to extensive fundraising experience, Zsolnay also served as a colonel in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserves. Between 2002 and 2003 he was the Chief Operations Officer of the United Nations Military Observers monitoring the peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Karen Humphreys Blake, who has served as UHKF’s Acting President and CEO since January says she looks forward to working with Tom on the transition, “I congratulate Tom on his appointment and am confident UHKF will benefit from his leadership and expertise.”

“It’s exciting to begin this new chapter in my career in a new community,” says Zsolnay, who, together with his wife, Caroline, made the nearly 5,000 km trek at the end of August.  “It will be a privilege to get to know this community and the donors who have helped our hospitals achieve so many of their goals.”