Turnover among healthcare chief executives has fallen about 60 percent in the first two months of 2011, compared with the like period last year.
In January and February of this year, 22 healthcare executives left their jobs compared with 35 in the first two months of 2010, according to a report from outplacement company Challenger Gray & Christmas.
The trend in healthcare mirrors U.S. industry overall, which saw CEO departures fall 15 percent to 188 during the period. The government and nonprofit sector has provided the largest amount of chief executive turnover this year at 26, according to the report.
Most of the healthcare CEO departures this year have involved hospitals and health systems, such as Ellen Zane of Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Zane announced her retirement last month.
One notable exception is Cincinnati-based contract research organization Kendle International. CEO Candace Kendle also announced retirement plans last month.
The average age of all departing CEOs this year is about 62 years. Average tenure is nearly 10 years.
