HealthcareFirst CEO retires, takes next year off

Last edited 12:05 p.m., Nov. 23, 2016

HealthcareFirst Inc. today announced the retirement of its longtime president and CEO.

At the Springfield-based health care software firm, Kevin Porter is succeeding Bobby Robertson, who has led the company for more than 20 years. Robertson, 48, said this morning he informed the company’s employees, board members and owners on Nov. 10 of his decision. Robertson said he will take at least a year off as he decides on his next steps.

“I’ve been away from home and my family for a lot of nights each year for many years now,” he said. “I would not do this if I wasn’t comfortable with Kevin Porter, who is an incredible guy and will continue the growth track record that we’ve had for many years.”

Robertson will retain his minority ownership stake in the company, as well as his board seat. Porter, who joined HealthCareFirst last year after the company bought Louisville, Kentucky, analysts provider Deyta LLC, also holds a minority stake in the company. He joined Deyta in 2001 as CFO and was promoted to president and CEO in 2006. He became CFO of HealthcareFirst in December, after serving a brief stint as senior vice president responsible for analytics. Porter works out of HealthcareFirst’s Louisville office, said spokeswoman Amanda Evans.

Robertson started as a sales manager of HealthcareFirst and in 1999 gathered a group of employees to support his purchase of the business. Robertson and his father Bob sold a controlling interest in HealthcareFirst in 2008 to The Riverside Co. Pamlico Capital bought that controlling stake in 2012, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

During Robertson’s tenure, HealthcareFirst grew through acquisitions and made the fast-growth Inc. 5000 for five straight years. In 2015, the company posted revenue of $31.2 million, representing three-year growth of 43 percent.

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