Trinity, Catholic Health East name interim CEO and COO of new system

Judith Persichilli was named interim president and CEO of the new Roman Catholic system that would form through a pending merger of Catholic Health East and Trinity Health.

Persichilli has served as the president and CEO of Newtown Square, Pa.-based CHE since May 2010. Officials also named Larry Warren as interim COO. Warren, 66, stepped in as interim CEO for Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health after Joseph Swedish left last month for the CEO post with WellPoint, one of the largest insurers in the U.S. Warren joined Trinity's board in July 2011 and previously was president and CEO at Howard University Hospital in Washington.

Trinity and Catholic Health East hired a consulting firm to conduct a nationwide search to find a permanent president and CEO for the combined health system, according to a news release. The deal would bring together the more than 70 hospitals that Trinity and Catholic Health East operate in 21 states from coast to coast. The transaction is on track to close this spring, a Trinity spokeswoman said.

Combined, the new Roman Catholic system would have $13.9 billion in annual operating revenue, making it the nation's second largest not-for-profit system by revenue.

The organizations also announced the names of the 12 members of the new system's board of directors. The list includes James Bentley, former senior VP, strategic policy planning for the American Hospital Association. Five nuns also were named to the board.

When the agreement was announced in October, officials said Persichilli would be the new system's executive vice president. A Trinity spokeswoman declined to say what roles Persichilli and Warren might have after permanent leaders are chosen.