CoxHealth CEO to retire

CoxHealth President and CEO Bob Bezanson will retire from his position Dec. 31.

Bezanson, 65, has served in the role since Aug. 1, 2004, and has worked at Cox since 1981. Prior to being promoted to the hospital's top post, Bezanson worked as executive vice president and chief operations officer since 1995 and has also served as administrator of Cox South, administrator of shared services and assistant administrator, according to a news release.

“Bob has provided vision and firm leadership that has led the organization forward,” said Larry Lipscomb, chairman of the board of directors, in the release. “Despite recent economically challenging times, CoxHealth is well-positioned for success now and in the future. He will be greatly missed. We wish him a healthful and joyful retirement.”

The CoxHealth Board of Directors has selected an executive search committee to fill Bezanson's role. Stacy Fender, media relations coordinator, said the board is planning to pick a new president and CEO by year-end.

The board has requested that Bezanson stay on as executive adviser to help his successor with the transition.

“The leadership is in place and can pick up the pace and not miss a step,” Bezanson said in the release.

In his 30-year career with CoxHealth, Bezanson was instrumental in the health system's construction on the strip of medical facilities on South National Avenue known as the Medical Mile. He was most recently involved in managing $120 million in capital projects, including the Meyer Orthopedic Center, CoxHealth Surgery Center and the Cox South Emergency & Trauma Center.[[In-content Ad]]