Asheville, NC

Chief Executive Officer, Dogwood Health Trust
The Organization

Witt Kieffer is honored to partner with Dogwood Health Trust and its Board of Directors in recruiting its founding Chief Executive Officer. This is a career-defining opportunity for a seasoned, collaborative and humble executive to build and lead the biggest healthcare conversion foundation on a per capita basis in the country. Dogwood Health Trust is a $1.5 billion private, not for profit, non-operating foundation, based in Asheville, North Carolina, whose sole purpose is “to dramatically improve the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina.” The Trust became operational upon the sale of the assets of Mission Health System to HCA Healthcare. Dogwood Health Trust will seek to fulfill its purpose by addressing what the World Health Organization and other experts call the social determinants of health – factors such as individuals’ early childhood development, education, economic stability and physical surroundings.

This person will be a bold and entrepreneurial leader with a proven track record of success and clearly identifiable accomplishments that lend confidence that he or she is capable of thriving with a challenge of this magnitude. The CEO, in conjunction with the Board, will build the Dogwood Health Trust’s reputation and organization, establishing a clear understanding of the Trust’s mission, purpose and goals and eliminating any public confusion over the beneficiaries of its efforts. The CEO will establish a sustainable organization that will serve as a model for other communities across the nation. Dogwood Health Trust has the opportunity to create a model for other organizations in other communities to emulate. The CEO will drive all efforts to have the Trust recognized as an advocate and thought leader in addition to a grant-making organization.

Position Overview

The successful Chief Executive Officer candidate will firmly establish oneself in the community and be seen as the voice and face of Dogwood Health Trust to all constituents. This executive must develop personal and professional credibility, gain respect and build trust internally and externally, making certain that residents throughout Western North Carolina are engaged in the launching and planning of the Trust’s charitable work and that the Trust will be faithful to its charitable purposes.

Candidates must possess 10+ years of management experience leading an organization or business with full P&L responsibility, operations, strategy and execution. Candidates from foundations, not-for-profit and for-profit environments will be considered. Essential to this CEO’s success will be a proven understanding of the social determinants of health, population health assessment and programming, as well as an appreciation of emerging trends and opportunities. The selected candidate must have demonstrated program development and delivery success, with the clear ability to quantify/validate program performance. The successful candidate will have experience building and managing a complex organization that is innovative and responsive.

How To Apply

A full Leadership Profile detailing the opportunity can be found at www.wittkieffer.com. Please direct all nominations and resumes to Kimberly Smith, Julie Rosen and John Fazekas, the Witt/Kieffer Consultants leading this assignment in partnership with the Dogwood Health Trust via e-mail, to: DHT-CEO@wittkieffer.com.

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