Longtime CEO Kevin Lofton to Retire June 30

Kevin Lofton, CEO of CommonSpirit Health, has announced he will retire June 30, 2020.

When he retires, Lofton will have served 17 years as CEO and 22 years as an executive with Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and now CommonSpirit, and 42 years as a health care leader.

Lofton and Lloyd Dean will continue to lead the Office of the CEO through June 2020. After Lofton’s retirement, Dean will be CommonSpirit’s sole CEO.

The CommonSpirit Board did not intend to continue the two CEO structure over the long-term and will ensure a smooth transition.

Lofton, 65, said the timing is right to share his plan for retirement, now that CommonSpirit has reached its one-year anniversary and has a strong foundation with a clear mission and strategy and a talented leadership team in place.

“Kevin Lofton is an exceptional leader and one of the most influential in health care,” said Tessie Guillermo, CommonSpirit Board chair. “Upon his retirement, the Board is pleased to honor Kevin with the title CEO Emeritus of CommonSpirit Health in recognition of his many accomplishments and lasting imprint on the ministry.”

“It has been an honor to share the creation of CommonSpirit Health with Kevin and there is no question that all of us have appreciated the gifts that he brought forward. I will forever cherish the opportunity to have been a part of this journey with him,” said Dean. “We all owe Kevin a great deal of gratitude and I wish him and his family all the best.”

Lofton has had a long career of service and influence. During his tenure, CHI — strengthened by the rich heritage of our founding congregations — transformed from a hospital company to an innovative, diversified health care enterprise. He led CHI’s successful effort to join with Dignity Health to form CommonSpirit in February 2019.

Nationally, Lofton has helped increase the number of minority health care executives and physicians. He has focused attention on health disparities and has worked to improve the overall health of people and communities.

Following his retirement, Lofton will continue his external commitments as a board member of Gilead Sciences, Inc., the Rite Aid Corp., and the Georgia State University Foundation. He plans to remain fully engaged in influencing changes within America’s health care system.

Kevin remains as CEO for the next six months, continuing his commitment to our ministry.