CaroMont Health in Gastonia, N.C., has fired its president and CEO, Randall Kelley.
The decision to release Kelley comes in the wake of a controversial rebranding campaign that proposed changing the name of Gaston Memorial Hospital to CaroMont Regional Medical Center and adopting the slogan “Cheat Death.”
At a meeting on April 15, the board of directors met with Kelley to discuss concerns voiced by CaroMont staff and subsequently decided to terminate Kelley's contract. The board then named executive VP and COO Douglas Luckett interim president and CEO.
“With these actions, the board will enter a period of reflection to evaluate the current environment, improve communications and repair relationships,” Spurgeon Mackie, chairman of the board of directors, said in a news release. “This was a difficult decision; however, the board is confident we can move forward in a positive and constructive manner.”