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Gary Gottlieb |
Partners launches search for CEO
Focus first turns to 4 candidates from within its network
By
Jeffrey Krasner
Globe Staff
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September 5, 2008
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Partners HealthCare System Inc., the region's dominant operator of hospitals and other medical care facilities, has begun a search to replace chief executive Dr. James Mongan, 66, who will retire at the end of 2009, according to several healthcare professionals with knowledge of the search.
The search so far is focusing on four internal candidates, including two heads of hospitals and two heads of physician groups. Partners' board of trustees will also evaluate external candidates.
A final decision is expected by year-end or early next year. Terrence Murray, former chairman of Fleet Financial Group, is heading the board's search committee.
Mongan's decision to retire at the end of next year has not been publicized. But the succession follows a pattern set by Dr. Samuel O. Thier, the previous chief executive of Partners. Thier also served for about six years. He was 65 when he stepped down.
At stake is one of the best-paying and most influential healthcare jobs in the country. Mongan earned about $2 million last year, according to filings with the attorney general's office.
The Partners system includes some of the city's most prestigious academic medical centers and important community hospitals in Eastern Massachusetts. Its size and academic clout make it a key player in medical research and healthcare policy. Partners is also a leader in implementing electronic medical records, technology intended to lower costs and reduce medical errors.
"As the parent of Brigham and Women's and Massachusetts General hospitals, two of the most respected academic medical centers in the world, Partners has a visibility that goes well beyond Boston," said Stephen M. Weiner, a healthcare attorney at Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris and Glovsky PC who has worked with Partners. "This is one of the few successful examples of an integrated healthcare system in the country, so the person who holds the CEO position has tremendous visibility on health policy issues nationally."
Partners is also a crucial part of the Massachusetts economy. With the equivalent of 40,000 full-time employees, it is the state's largest private employer.
The internal candidates are:
All of Partners' previous chief executives were doctors, and the organization seeks to maintain that tradition, according to several people with knowledge of the search process.
Surprisingly, Peter L. Slavin, 49, the president of Massachusetts General Hospital, has withdrawn his name from consideration, according to Partners. Slavin succeeded Mongan as head of Mass. General.
In a statement, senior Partners officials said Slavin decided in July he would not "pursue the Partners leadership role, confirming that he wanted to continue leading the MGH."
Mongan has led Partners through a period of extraordinary growth. In fiscal 2002, before he became chief executive, it had revenue of $4.2 billion and net income, including investments, of $50 million. In 2007, it had revenue of nearly $6.5 billion and income from operations and investments of $244 million.
Partners was formed in 1994 by Mass. General and Brigham and Women's. The two academic medical centers have maintained a keen rivalry despite their affiliation. Since Mongan and his predecessor both came from Mass. General, some healthcare executives privately said they believe Partners' new leader will come from Brigham and Women's. That leads some to believe Gottlieb is the favored choice.
Jeffrey Krasner can be reached at krasner@globe.com.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
