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News release: NationalJuly 23, 2001 For more information, call: Health plan CEO to retire at end of 2002 Oakland, CA – David Lawrence, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals (KFHP/H) has informed the KFHP/H Board of Directors of his intention to retire in December 2002. "This has been one of the more eventful and turbulent periods in the history of our nation's health care, and I feel privileged to have led this great organization during this era," stated Dr. Lawrence. "I am proud of what has been accomplished, remaining true to the original social mission first articulated by Henry Kaiser. We have much more work to do over the next 18 months, but we must begin the transition to a new generation of leadership at the same time." David M. Lawrence, MD, has been with Kaiser Permanente since 1981 when he was named to lead the Permanente Medical Group in Portland, Oregon. Following a number of high-level executive appointments with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, he was named chief executive officer in March of 1992. Dr. Lawrence is a highly respected advocate for integrated health care and technological innovation. He continues to be a leader in bringing the issue of patient safety to the attention of the public. It is Dr. Lawrence, in collaboration with John Sweeney of the AFL-CIO, who created the first-ever labor management partnership in health care. "The choice of a successor to Dr. Lawrence is our single most important and consequential decision," said Dan Garcia, chair of the KFHP/H Board Search Committee. "Considerable time has been spent preparing for succession and we will act carefully and thoughtfully." According to Garcia, "Our current plan is to name a new CEO no later than June 2002. This will allow at least a six-month overlap while we transition to new leadership." The executive search firm, Korn Ferry International, will assist in the selection process.
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