Health First President and CEO Steve Johnson Announces Retirement After Guiding Organization Through Period of Transformation, Growth

Kent Smith, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, will serve as Health First interim CEO

Johnson’s countless contributions to the Health First organization over the past decade leave the organization well-positioned to continue advancing the mission of delivering exceptional care to the communities they serve.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Health First announced today that President and CEO Steve Johnson will be retiring from the organization this month. In his stead, Kent Smith, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, will be serving as the organization’s interim CEO.

From there, Health First’s Board of Trustees and senior leadership will conduct a national search to select the most well-suited candidate to serve as the new permanent President and CEO.

“I want Health First to thank Steve for everything he has accomplished as the CEO of our organization over the past decade,” said Smith.

“Over the course of his tenure with this team, he has served as a steward, partner, and advocate for Health First, guiding the organization through a period of transformation and growth as we pivot to become a consumer-centric wellness company.”

Under Johnson’s decade of leadership, Health First has realized a number of valuable accomplishments, including embarking on an intentional evolution from hospital system to wholly integrated delivery network. The organization has incorporated key teams and partners in order to double its physician group and reinforce its commitment to a flexible, wholly integrated experience.

SEE STEVE JOHNSON’S RETIREMENT LETTER HERE

And Health First also recently expanded available Health Plan options and partnered with AdventHealth to optimize healthcare availability throughout the Central Florida region.

Beyond his time with Health First, Johnson has been on the Board of the Florida Hospital Association for several years and serves in an advisory capacity on a number of wellness-related companies and community organizations. He’s a relentless champion of wellness and has spent decades building a career centered on serving others.

Smith will assume the role of interim CEO. He has served on the Board for the past five years, holding the role of chairman for the past two years. He has cultivated a deep knowledge of and passion for healthcare over the course of his decades-long business career, bringing wide-ranging expertise to the transitional role.

Health First will begin considering the most well-suited candidates for the next President and CEO in the coming weeks and will provide updates to the broader community when the new leader is chosen.

“For me, healthcare is so much more than sick-care,” Johnson said.

“It’s about cultivating, supporting, and celebrating our personal wellness and the wellness of those around us. That’s precisely what I plan to do next, choosing wellness through time spent with my family.”

Similar Stories