Premier Inc. CEO Norling to retire in 2009

Richard A. Norling will retire as president and CEO of Premier Inc., the nationwide healthcare alliance, on June 30, 2009, the end of his current contract term. A process is under way to have a successor identified well before then and ensure a smooth transition, said Premier Board Chair Lowell C. Kruse, president and CEO of Heartland Health in St. Joseph, MO. Norling has been planning for his eventual retirement for some time.