3 Notable CEO Transitions Across Leading Organizations

These new changes at the top reflect shifts in strategy, stability, and leadership around the industry.

Whether it’s enacting a succession plan or making a strategic pivot, many healthcare delivery organizations are making leadership changes to better position themselves for the foreseeable future.

Three high-profile CEO appointments underscore the evolving priorities of top organizations:

Ascension

The St. Louis-based health system saw its CEO, Joseph Impicciche, announce his retirement, putting the Catholic nonprofit’s transition plan into motion.

When Impicciche’s retirement takes effect at the end of the calendar year, stepping into the role will be Eduardo Conrado, who has served as Ascension’s president since 2023. He joined the system in 2018 as executive vice president and chief digital officer before becoming chief strategy and innovation officer.

Under Conrado’s leadership, Ascension “implemented a new operating model, reduced reliance on contract labor, accelerated portfolio transformation investments to expand ambulatory and pharmacy services, and launched tools like the Ascension One app to simplify patient engagement,” the health system said in its announcement.

Conrado will aim to build upon the organization’s outpatient footprint, which includes the recent acquisition of ambulatory surgery provider AmSurg for $3.9 billion.

Optum Health

At the healthcare delivery unit of UnitedHealth Group, Patrick Conway is adding another role to his duties.

Conway will take over for Amar Desai as the CEO of Optum Health, just months after being named the CEO of Optum as a whole. Desai, who served in the position since 2023, will transition to being president of Optum integrated care and vice chairman of Optum Health.

UnitedHealth Group underperformed in its first quarter earnings and Optum Health was part of the underwhelming results, reporting revenue of $25.3 billion, compared to $26.7 billion over the same period last year.

The healthcare giant is working to regain its footing amid a tumultuous a stretch that was headlined by the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A major move came when UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty stepped down for personal reasons in May, paving the way for Stephen Hemsley to assume the role.

“Leadership changes are consistent with the company's longstanding, intentional approach to develop an executive team with a range of experiences across its diverse portfolio of businesses and in ongoing service to its mission and the people it serves,” a company spokesperson said in a statement regarding Conway’s appointment.

BJC Health System

Another St. Louis-based hospital operator also saw its veteran leader retire, marking the end of an era, as well as the start of a new chapter.

The nonprofit academic health system announced that CEO Rich Liekweg will retire in October after serving in the role since 2018. His successor is Nick Barto, currently BJC’s president since 2023.

Barto’s elevation marks a continuity of leadership during a period of growth for the system, reinforcing BJC's mission and stability. Under Liekweg, BJC expanded to include 24 hospitals and more than 250 other locations across Missouri, southern Illinois, and eastern Kansas.

“Nick’s 30-plus years of health care and operations experience – including many leading complex, integrated health care systems – make him uniquely qualified to lead BJC through this next chapter of our storied history,” Greg Bentz, chair of the BJC Health System’s board of directors, said in a statement.