Sisters of Mercy names CEO

John Sullivan has been named president and chief executive officer of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, Chesterfield, Mo., which operates 18 acute-care hospitals in seven states and ranks as the ninth-biggest Catholic system in the nation, officials announced today. Sullivan, 57, who joined Mercy in March 2004, moves up from his post as executive vice president and chief operating officer, replacing Ronald Ashworth, who announced last year that he intended to step down. Ashworth, president and CEO since 1999, will become chairman of the board of directors. The changes are effective May 1. Before joining Mercy, Sullivan held executive positions with Loyola University Health System and Resurrection Health Care in the Chicago area. Ashworth, a Mercy executive since 1991, will replace Bishop Joseph Sullivan as the system’s board chairman, remaining “an active leader” to help ensure a smooth transition under the new leadership, Sister Mary Roch Rocklage, chair of Mercy’s Sponsor Council and a member of the search committee, said in a statement. -- by Michael Romano