Welcome to this week's Chutes & Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please submit the good news—or the bad—from your shop, and we will feature it here at the end of each week.
America’s Health Insurance Plans
President and CEO Matthew Eyles has decided to step down from his role at America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).
Eyles informed the board of directors that he will be exiting the organization at the end of the third quarter of 2023 for personal reasons. During his five-year tenure as CEO, Eyles guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, helped grow Medicare Advantage, eliminated the health insurance tax and enacted policies to protect consumers from surprise billing, among other accomplishments. He spent a total of eight years at the organization including time as vice president and chief operating officer and vice president of policy and regulatory affairs.
Before working with AHIP, Eyles held various positions at Pfizer-owned Wyeth and Eli Lilly. In 2018, he took over for Marilyn Tavenner at AHIP who was appointed to lead the trade organization following time as top administrator of Medicare and Medicaid under President Barack Obama. The AHIP board of directors will begin a national search for Eyles’ replacement.
Centene
Shannon Susko has been named chief communications officer at Centene, the largest Medicaid managed care organization in the U.S.
Susko holds over two decades of corporate and crisis communication experience, most recently as managing director and head of healthcare at financial communications boutique Edelman Smithfield. She previously held the position of vice president of communications at Global Strategy Group. She worked for a decade at TriWest Healthcare Alliance, a Department of Defense managed care contractor responsible for administration of the military's healthcare program.
In her new role, Susko will spearhead Centene's communications function by leading all internal and external communications, overseeing corporate reputation and advancing communications strategy. She will fill the position beginning immediately.
It was recently revealed that Centene Chief Operating Officer James Murray will be retiring in 2024. He previously served as chief transformation officer at the company and COO at Magellan Health.
Albertsons
Tom Moriarty has been named executive vice president and general counsel at grocery chain Albertsons, effective June 5.
Moriarty comes to Albertsons by way of CVS where he most recently held the position of chief policy and external affairs officer and general counsel at CVS Health. He also worked as chief strategy officer and EVP of global pharma, a position in which he oversaw all legal and regulatory functions related to CVS' $78 billion acquisition of Aetna. He previously spent over a decade at Medco Health Solutions where he aided the company in its merger with Express Scripts.
“One of the things that excites me most about this opportunity is the vital role that Albertsons Cos. plays in the communities it serves as a grocery and pharmacy retailer committed to its customers and their well-being,” Moriarty said in a press release.
Despite local, state and federal opposition, Albertsons is on track to be acquired by grocer giant Kroger by early 2024, Kroger’s CEO Rodney McMullen said on the company’s most recent earnings call.
Bon Secours Mercy Health
Veronica Scott-Fulton has been hired as chief nursing executive at Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health System.
Scott-Fulton most recently held the same position for the Illinois region of Ascension Health and boasts over three decades of nursing experience. She has held positions such as executive director of nursing operations for Miami Children’s Health System, vice president of operations and patient care services for Baptist Health System’s Wolfson Children’s Hospital and regional vice president of patient care operations for women and children’s services for HCA Healthcare.
In her new role, she will lead nursing strategy for the organization’s 22,000 nurses. As she transitions into her new role, she will work closely with Chief Nurse and Quality Officer Andrea Mazzoccoli, Ph.D. Mazzoccoli will retire at the end of June after 15 years with Bon Secours and 40 years in healthcare and nursing.
> Cedars-Sinai has appointed Bryan Croft as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and as chief executive officer of Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital.
> WelbeHealth has welcomed Michael Le, M.D., as chief medical officer of the physician-led public benefit company.
> Innovaccer announced that Jami Snyder has joined its strategic advisory board.
> Commonwealth Care Alliance has appointed Elizabeth Gianini as senior vice president of public affairs and David Weader as senior vice president and general counsel.
> Charles River Laboratories recently appointed Emilio Cordova as executive director of Logica, an AI-powered drug discovery tool formed out of a partnership with Charles River Laboratories and Valo Health.
> Clarify Health has switched up its board of directors with the appointment of Doug Klinger and Mary Lantin.
> Akido, a health tech company, announced that Judy Carpenter has joined its leadership team as head of medical network operations.
> The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives celebrates Nicole Kerkenbush joining the organization as the new vice president of education.
> Bicycle Health, a telehealth provider treating opioid use disorder, welcomed Amy Finney as its new chief operating officer.
> HIMSS has appointed Elena Sini as the incoming chair for the HIMSS board of directors and Susan Heichert as the vice chair for the HIMSS board of directors.
> Woebot Health announced Matt Borowiecki as its newest chief financial officer.
> Pager, a virtual care provider, announced that Dave Dookeeram has joined as chief operating officer.
> Garnet Health Medical Center promoted Nicole Sewell to chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services.
> CRISP Shared Services named Marc Rabner, M.D., as its first-ever chief medical officer.
> Pharmacy Quality Alliance welcomed Melissa Viscovich as chief operating officer.
> Tegria, a healthcare consulting and technology services company, announced Jen Morgan joins Tegria as its chief financial officer and Prasanna Gunjikar joins as its chief growth officer.
> I-PASS has hired Bob Hanscom as a strategic adviser.
> RetireeFirst announced that Michael Yoo has joined the company as chief information officer.
> Rhapsody named Jeff Chiumiento as the company’s new chief financial officer.
> Thyme Care, a clinically coordinated cancer care navigation company, announced that Julia Ivanova has joined the company as senior vice president of growth.