Spectrum Health plans to promote one of its executives, Tina Freese Decker, to replace its retiring president and CEO on Sept. 1, the Grand Rapids-based health system announced Tuesday.
Freese Decker, 40, has been selected to take over for Richard Breon, who announced his retirement last October after 18 years.
The new chief joined the hospital under Breon in 2002 as an administrative fellow and worked her way through the ranks, including serving as Spectrum Health Hospital group president from 2014-2017 and most recently executive vice president and COO, according to her LinkedIn page.
Breon originally planned to retire in 2019, but instead will step down Aug. 31.
"Spectrum Health is strong and positioned well for the future thanks to Rick Breon's exceptional leadership. I am confident that Tina is the right individual to lead this organization into the next era of health care, focusing on reducing the cost of care, enhancing the experience of our patients and members, and continuing to improve the health of the communities we serve," Spectrum board Chairman Dick DeVos said in a news release.
Spectrum is the largest employer in West Michigan, with 26,000 employees and 3,600 physicians and advanced practice providers across a dozen hospitals. The not-for-profit system grew from two hospitals to its current size and $6 billion in revenue under Breon's leadership, Crain's reported.
The CEO transition comes as Spectrum and Lakeland Health plan to merge on Oct. 1.
"I want to focus on engaging our team members and community members to create a community vision for 2030," Freese Decker told Crain's. "I expect that will be about health and wellness and a personal approach to working with people through their health journey."
Freese Decker has been recognized among Crain's Notable Women in Healthcare 2018 , Crain's 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan 2016 and was named among the top 25 COOs in health care by Modern Healthcare.
The Iowa native holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Iowa State University and a master of health administration degree from University of Iowa.
"Spectrum Health promotes Tina Freese Decker to president and CEO" originally appeared in Crain's Detroit Business.
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