The planned merger between Maryland-based Bon Secours Health System and Ohio-based Mercy Health has a new name and a new leader.
John M. Starcher Jr., the CEO of Mercy, will serve as the president and CEO of the combined health system, officials announced Monday.
The new health system, which will be one of the largest Catholic health systems in the U.S., will be called Bon Secours Mercy Health. The new company is expected to have more than 57,000 employees and 1,000 sites of care.
Officials said the deal is expected to be finalized by the fall.
Officials said Bon Secours President and CEO Rich Statuto will continue to serve Bon Secours Mercy Health as an adviser for the next year, primarily focused on strategic growth and innovation. He will retire in 2019.
(PRNewsfoto/Bon Secours
Mercy Health)
Starcher was named president and CEO of Mercy Health in 2016 after 13 years at Mercy Health. He was CEO of three out of four divisions and also served as the organization's senior vice president of human resources and assistant general counsel.
He served on the Bon Secours Health System Board in 2017.
Bon Secours Mercy Health will operate under the governance of one board of directors led by chairperson Chris Allen, who is chairman of the Bon Secours board of directors. Katherine W. Vestal, chairwoman of the Mercy Health Board of Trustees, will serve as vice chair.
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Because both entities have strong brand equity and name recognition in the communities they serve, officials said current names and brands will continue to be represented in signage, uniforms and badges.