Cone Health President and CEO Dr. Mary Jo Cagle is stepping down May 31 due to a family health matter.
Interim Chief Operating Officer Bernard “Bernie” Sherry will serve as interim CEO starting June 1, and a new COO will be named in the coming weeks, according to a Wednesday news release. The health system is conducting a nationwide search for a permanent CEO, the release said.
Related: Kaiser-backed Risant Health completes Cone Health acquisition
Cagle became CEO at Cone in 2021 and was the first woman and physician to hold the title. She helped lead the Greensboro, North Carolina-based system through the COVID-19 pandemic and played an integral role in its recent acquisition by Risant Health. Cone operates five hospitals and 150 physician practices across the state.
"It has been a joy and privilege to lead this system," Cagle said in the release.
Risant, a nonprofit entity created by Kaiser Permanente, acquired Cone in December and pledged a minimum of $1 billion in capital support over the next five years. Risant also agreed to provide up to $400 million to support Cone's integration process, plus $300 million over the next decade for growth opportunities.
Cone was the second system to join Risant, following the Geisinger Health acquisition about a year ago.
