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Source: Nashville Business Journal
Author: Joel Stinnett
Date: October 26, 2022
HCA Healthcare Inc. is reshaping its organizational structure and filling an important C-suite position in the process.
Effective Jan. 1, the Nashville-based company will grow from two to three operating groups, overseeing different regions in which HCA operates hospitals, according to a news release.
As part of the changes, HCA American Group President Jon Foster will be promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In his new role, Foster will oversee development, payer contracting, strategy and innovation, service lines, ambulatory surgery division, physician and provider relations and the U.K. division, according to the release. Foster joined HCA in 2001 as president and CEO of St. David's Healthcare in Austin.
Foster will be HCA’s first COO since Jan.1, 2019, when Sam Hazen left the role to become CEO.
The appointment is significant, as three of HCA’s last four CEOs — Jack Bovender, Richard Bracken and Hazen — held the position of COO prior to being named as the company’s top executive. Since Bovender became CEO in 2001, HCA CEOs have held the top position for an average of six years each. Hazen will enter his fifth year as CEO in January.
HCA (NYSE: HCA) is Middle Tennessee’s largest publicly traded company, according to Nashville Business Journal research, with nearly 11,000 local employees and $58.75 billion of revenue in 2021. The company operates 182 hospitals across 20 states and the United Kingdom, more than any for-profit hospital operator in the U.S.
In addition to Foster, HCA vice president of financial operations support, Mike Marks, will be promoted to senior vice president of finance and will report to Foster, according to the release.
“Jon and Mike are two of the most seasoned operations executives in the company, and I am confident they will provide tremendous leadership and support to the organization in these important areas,” Hazen said in the release. “They will also play an important role in assisting with other strategic initiatives, including the transition into three operations groups.”
The three new operations groups will have five domestic divisions inside each, according to the release, and group presidents will report to Hazen. The changes are designed to create more speed in decision-making and allow for more focused support inside the groups.
North Texas Division President Erol Akdamar has been named president of the American Group and will oversee the Gulf Coast, San Antonio, North Texas, Central West Texas and Continental divisions, according to the release.
Capital Division President Tim McManus has been named president of the National Group and will oversee the Capital, North Carolina, TriStar, Mountain and Far West divisions.
North Florida Division President Richard Hammett has been named president of the Atlantic Group and will oversee the West Florida, East Florida, North Florida, South Atlantic and Mid America divisions.