ProMedica Announces CEO Retirement and Succession Plan

ProMedica today announced that its board of directors has unanimously confirmed that Arturo Polizzi will serve as ProMedica’s next chief executive officer, starting on November 1, 2022. Randy Oostra made the decision to retire after 25 years with the organization. Over the past six months, Mr. Oostra has worked closely with Mr. Polizzi to prepare him for the chief executive officer role and help ensure a smooth transition in leadership.

While Mr. Oostra had discussions about retirement and succession planning with the board prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he chose to hold off when the unprecedented public health issue arose. Leading the organization through the uncertainty and challenges of the pandemic became his top priority.

With the pandemic more under control now, he is moving forward with his retirement plan. His last day at ProMedica will be October 31, 2022.

Mr. Oostra began his tenure at ProMedica as vice president at ProMedica Toledo Hospital in 1997. Then, he served as the president of multiple ProMedica hospitals before being promoted to chief operating officer and president of the health system in 2006. He has served as president and chief executive officer since 2009.

“Serving ProMedica for the last 25 years has been the highlight of my career,” said ProMedica CEO Randy Oostra. “Over the years, we have had the pleasure of working with so many dedicated caregivers, board members, and community leaders who have inspired our work daily. As part of ProMedica, I’ve also been grateful for the opportunity to connect with many incredible individuals as we have worked to address the social factors that significantly impact health outcomes. Together, we have made meaningful progress in the way health care is delivered. It has been a true honor and privilege to lead ProMedica and serve our communities.”

Arturo Polizzi is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and health care industry. He is highly skilled in nonprofit organizations, strategy, operations, team building and business development. He started his career in 1998 at ProMedica as an in-house attorney. Over the past 20 years, he has served in various strategic and operational roles at the organization, including associate general counsel, chief human resources officer and president of the metro Toledo ProMedica hospitals. Prior to returning to ProMedica as the chief operating officer in 2020, Mr. Polizzi served as the president and CEO at Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“I’ve worked closely with Arturo for many years, and I’m confident he will be an exceptional CEO for ProMedica,” said Oostra. “We have been working on a transition plan for some time, and despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, he is well prepared to continue moving the organization toward long-term financial stability and success.”

“On behalf of ProMedica’s board of directors, I want to thank Randy Oostra for his 25 years of commitment to the organization and the remarkable impact he has had on our communities,” said ProMedica Board Chairman Bob LaClair. “Randy has played a pivotal role in helping to transform health care, establishing ProMedica as a leader in addressing the social determinants of health starting more than a decade ago. He has also embraced the anchor Institution philosophy in a way that few other leaders have, resulting in wide-reaching community support that has been a catalyst for many positive changes. We have been inspired by his leadership and commitment to health care and the community, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Mr. LaClair continued, “We are pleased to confirm Arturo Polizzi as ProMedica’s next CEO. His extensive, proven leadership at ProMedica and previous health network CEO experience make him a strong asset, and we are confident that Arturo is the ideal choice to further ProMedica’s mission and lead the organization into the future.”