Robitaille named President and CEO

Mark E. Robitaille, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Martin Memorial since 1991, has played a key role in the health system’s growth over the past two decades. This fall, that role will become even more significant.

Today, the Martin Memorial Health Systems Board of Directors announced that Robitaille will take the reins as president and chief executive officer of the health system on Oct. 1, 2008. He will replace Richmond M. Harman, who is retiring after serving as president and CEO since 1989. (Read full press release here).

“I am excited and honored to be taking on this new role,” Robitaille (pictured at left) said. “Martin Memorial holds a special place in this community and I am dedicated to continuing that legacy of care.”

Following Harman’s announcement earlier this year that he intended to retire, the executive committee of the board of directors engaged a succession planning consultant from the firm Witt/Kieffer to find an ideal candidate to replace him. The search process included extensive interviews with key Martin Memorial constituents, including medical staff physicians, community members and health system personnel.

“We were committed to finding the person we felt would best lead Martin Memorial,” said George H. Rittersbach Jr., M.D., chairman of the board of directors. “Mark brings a vast amount of experience, vision and familiarity with Martin Memorial and the community. We believe that Mark has all the tools necessary to provide new direction and leadership for Martin Memorial.”

Robitaille will succeed Richmond Harman, who came to Martin Memorial in 1975. He served as an assistant administrator until 1984 when he was named chief operating officer, and became president and chief executive officer in 1989.

“Once the Martin Memorial Board of Directors made its decision that Mark was the best person for the job, the board and I recognized that now is the time for me to step aside and allow him to begin moving forward,” Harman said. “I love this organization. I’ve devoted myself to it for three decades and I feel comfortable that it is in good hands with Mark at the helm. He has innovative ideas and a passion for health care that will continue to make Martin Memorial a place in which we can all take tremendous pride.”

--Scott Samples

Public Information Coordinator