Ontario's embattled air ambulance service has scooped up the province's chief coroner to be its new president and CEO.

The board of directors of Ornge issued a statement Wednesday saying Dr. Andrew McCallum is a ``proven leader with extensive
knowledge of the province.''

McCallum was appointed chief coroner in 2008 and is also a specialist in emergency medicine who has trained as a flight surgeon
in the Canadian Forces.

Ron McKerlie has been interim president and CEO since early this year and McCallum will start his new position on January 21st.

According to Ornge's website, the salary of the chief executive officer is capped at $418,000.

The issue of executive salaries has been a sensitive one for Ornge, which is trying to rebuild the public's trust after a year of
scandals that included ex-CEO Chris Mazza's $1.4-million compensation package.