ProMedica announces next CEO

7/28/2009

ProMedica Health System s board on Tuesday named Randy Oostra, the Toledo hospital provider s president and chief operating officer, as its next chief executive.

Mr. Oostra will replace Alan Brass, who had originally announced in November, 2008, that he would retire on Thursday. Last November, however, Mr. Brass agreed to remain as chief executive through 2010 to help steer ProMedica through a tough U.S. economy, and Mr. Oostra had agreed to extend his term as president and chief operating officer, too.

It has not been determined when Mr. Oostra will replace Mr. Brass, Larry Peterson, chairman of ProMedica s board of trustees, said.

Mr. Oostra was not available for comment.

A more than 25-year veteran of the health-care industry, Mr. Oostra has worked at ProMedica since 1997. At ProMedica, Mr. Oostra previously was corporate vice president and strategic business development and president of Bixby and Herrick medical centers in southeast Michigan.

He s got the experience and institutional knowledge of ProMedica, Mr. Peterson said. He is truly experienced in leading this organization.

Mr. Oostra previously held leadership positions at St. Anthony s Health System in Alton, Ill., Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, and Allina Health System in Minneapolis. He serves on numerous boards, including the United Way of Greater Toledo, Lourdes College, Cherry Street Mission, Regional Growth Partnership, and the American Hospital Association s regional policy board.

Mr. Brass has been ProMedica s chief executive since Jan. 19, 1998, and he also held the president spot until mid-2006.

ProMedica has 15,000 employees and 10 hospitals in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.