Gary Willis, EVP and CFO for Capella Healthcare
FRANKLIN, TN. September 4, 2015 — Gary D. Willis, CPA, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Capella Healthcare, effective September 7, according to Michael Wiechart, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Willis replaces Denise Warren, who is moving to North Carolina to become EVP and Chief Operating Officer for a large multi-hospital system, a move that places her closer to family. Warren joined Capella shortly after its founding in 2005.
Willis comes to Capella from Martin Ventures where he has been CFO. As CFO, he oversaw all financial aspects of the investment firm which focuses on equity and debt investments in young, high growth businesses, primarily in healthcare and technology. He also mentored management teams of portfolio companies regarding strategy, capital structure and operational issues.
Previously he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for Vanguard Health Systems for six years, and prior to that, he held a similar role at LifePoint Health for six years. Before his work in health care, Willis was affiliated with Gaylord Entertainment Company, where he was Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.
A Certified Public Accountant, Willis earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Kentucky University. Residents of Brentwood, Willis and his wife Shelly have two daughters, Caroline and Audrey.
“Gary will be an outstanding addition to our team,” said Wiechart. “With more than two decades of experience including significant work in the health care industry, Gary is positioned to provide the financial leadership we need during the exciting period of growth ahead for Capella.”
“We also want to express our appreciation for Denise’s contributions to the success of our company,” he said. “As one of the company’s first employees, her expertise in the financing arena has been vital to the growth we experienced during our first decade. She’s also given significant time to the community, including serving as Chair of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign.”
About Capella Healthcare
Capella Healthcare partners with communities to build strong local healthcare systems that are known for quality patient care. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Capella operates acute care and specialty hospital facilities in five states. With the philosophy that all healthcare is local, Capella collaborates with each hospital’s medical staff, board and community leadership to take care to the next level. A private company, Capella has access to significant leadership and financial resources, investing 100% of its net cash flow in its family of hospitals to strengthen and expand services and facilities.
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