Q&A with Our Interim President and CEO
Mon, Jan 29, 2018 -
Comments (1) -
Posted by
Deanna Moore
As you have probably heard by now, the executive committee of The Center for Health Affairs’ board has chosen Phil Mazanec to serve as interim president and CEO of The Center for Health Affairs and CHAMPS Healthcare. Watch the brief video below for a message from Mazanec, followed by a blog post he authored to address some of his most frequently asked questions.
I am honored and humbled to fulfill this role and eager to take on the challenges that lie ahead in 2018. I look back over the last century at previous leaders and am impressed with what they have accomplished: They have built an organization that has continually evolved to meet the needs of modern day. They have established The Center and CHAMPS as pillars of the healthcare community. They have cultivated a team that comes to work every day to make a difference and they’ve left me with a proud and strong legacy that I embrace whole-heartedly.
Not surprisingly, in my first few weeks as interim president and CEO, I have spent a lot of time addressing questions. Any time there is a leadership transition, questions are natural. So I thought I’d take a moment to provide answers to some of the questions I've received.
Q| What experience do you have that makes you the right person to serve as interim president and CEO?
A| I like to think the executive committee had many reasons to select me, but I’m sure my longevity played a significant role in their decision. I’ve been with the organization since 1979 when I began as director of pension services. Since then, I’ve held a number of positions with increasing responsibility. Since 2003 I have been chief operating officer. In addition to my in-depth knowledge of the organization, there’s no one more interested in its success or who believes in its mission more than I do.
Q| Will the strategic direction change under your leadership?
A| The organization’s boards were very involved last year in a strategic planning process that culminated in a plan that The Center’s board approved at the end of 2017. A lot of hard work and careful thought went into that plan and the outcome was a strong strategic direction that will guide our work through 2020. There is no reason to change it.
Q| Can you tell me more about the search for a permanent president and CEO?
A| The executive committee of our board, led by Patricia DePompei, RN, MSN, president of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, has engaged Waverly Partners to handle the nationwide search. The intention is to be thorough in this process but to move swiftly. We hope to have someone in place this fall.
Q| Are you a candidate for the permanent CEO position?
A| No. Last year I announced my intention to retire at the end of 2018 and that is still my plan.
Q| What are you hoping to achieve during your time as interim president and CEO?
A| My goal for this year is simple: I want to make sure I leave this organization in as strong a position as I can for the next leader. Our strategic direction outlines four strategic priorities: to inspire our team, engage our members, promote disciplined entrepreneurship and transform our community. As part of that plan, we have also outlined action plans to enable us to address these priorities. One key area of focus for me will be to ensure we are carrying those out. By the time I hand the reins over to the next CEO, we should have made significant progress on each of these. If I do what I intend to do, the new leader will be poised to launch The Center and CHAMPS into an exciting new era.
There has been a lot of curiosity about my new role and what the leadership change may mean for members and customers. The short answer is that my taking on this role only means we are even more focused on meeting their needs. Hopefully, this Q&A helps answer some of your most pressing questions but if not, I invite you to contact us at any time.