Erlanger Health System hires Spiegel for CEO post

Erlanger Health System has tapped Kevin Spiegel, CEO of Methodist University Hospital, Memphis, to serve as its president and CEO. Spiegel, who has held the top spot at Methodist University Hospital since 2008, was one of three finalists for the positions, according to an Erlanger spokeswoman.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System, which includes Erlanger Medical System, has been led by interim CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson, who assumed the role after Erlanger's previous CEO, Jim Brexler, left his post in December 2011.

Erlanger's 10-member board of trustees voted Feb. 18 to select Spiegel, capping a search that lasted more than nine months, the spokeswoman said. He was chosen over Rear Adm. Donald Gintzig, deputy chief of medical operations and future plans for the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, and Ken Haynes, former CEO of St. Joseph Health System in Kentucky.

It's anticipated he'll be in place by the end of March, the spokeswoman said. Woodard-Thompson remains in the role until final contract negotiations are completed, she said.