Present chairman Richard Thomson expects to be sacked, perhaps as soon as Monday, after refusing to resign last week when asked to by Health Minister Tony Ryall.
Mr Ryall said he had lost confidence in Mr Thomson's leadership since the scandal which erupted when former board chief information officer Michael Swann and his business partner Kerry Harford were charged with, and later convicted of, defrauding the board of $16.9 million.
Rumours have been circulating that Mr Ryall is considering appointing either health consultant Chris Fraser or ODHB and SBHB board member Tahu Potiki as chairman.
Mr Ryall could not be contacted for comment last night.
However, Mr Fraser and Mr Potiki had identical responses when asked by the Otago Daily Times last night whether they would be named the new ODHB chairman: "Not that I'm aware of".
Mr Fraser was the ODHB's regional planning and funding general manager for five years, from 2003 to 2008, and has worked for the Health Funding Authority and the Southern Regional Health Authority.
He also has strong National Party links, including a period as a senior policy adviser to former National minister of health Wyatt Creech.
However, he has never been a health board member, and he was also a staff member for part of the time Mr Swann was carrying out his fraudulent activities, which may preclude his being Mr Ryall's first choice.
Mr Fraser said he "had not put himself forward" for a position on the ODHB but would consider accepting a position if asked.
Mr Potiki, who runs a motel on Otago Peninsula, is chairman of Te Runanga o Otakou, a director of Maori Television and was chief executive of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu for five years.
He was appointed to the Southland and Otago health boards just over a year ago by former Labour minister of health Pete Hodgson and also served on the Canterbury and West Coast district health boards in the early 2000s.
His previous health board and management experience and his Maori heritage - and the fact he was not on the board when Mr Swann was employed - may count in his favour.
Mr Potiki said he "hadn't heard a squeak" about whether Mr Thomson would be sacked, or who his replacement might be.
"I imagine the minister will be weighing up his options very carefully," he said.
