Cejka Executive Search Recruits CEO for KidsPeace
August 9, 2019 – Healthcare is among the most rapidly growing employment fields, according to analysts at Hunt Scanlon Media, which tracks trends in the executive search and leadership solutions space. So it is that the need for recruiting firms to deliver top-drawer leaders throughout the sector has only grown.
After an extensive nationwide hunt, Cejka Executive Search recently assisted in the search to land Michael Slack as president and CEO of KidsPeace. Mr. Slack has been interim President/ CEO since March 2019, following the retirement of William Isemann. Paul Esselman, senior executive vice president and managing director at Cejka, led the assignment.
“Following a nationwide search, our board is delighted to have selected Mike Slack unanimously to lead the KidsPeace organization into the future,” said Scott Reines, KidsPeace’s board of directors chair. We are confident that Mike will provide leadership that is both steady and visionary, as KidsPeace continues to help our clients meet their own challenges and find success in life.”
Mr. Slack joined KidsPeace in 2001 as director of business development, and has served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in his tenure. Prior to his appointment as interim president and CEO he was KidsPeace’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, responsible for all KidsPeace behavioral and healthcare programming and operations.
Since 1882, KidsPeace has been building on its expertise to give hope, help and healing to children, adults and those who love them. Through its comprehensive range of residential treatment programs; accredited educational services; unique psychiatric hospital and foster care and community-based programs, KidsPeace is dedicated to helping people connect, transform and overcome their challenges to ensure a stable future, transition to adulthood and gain independence. Since its doors opened, more than 250,000 children have participated in one of the multitude of programs KidsPeace offers.
“I’m honored to have the board’s support in leading this organization going forward, and I’m grateful to Dr. Reines and the rest of the board of directors for this opportunity,” Mr. Slack said following his formal appointment. “I look forward to continuing to work with all our 2,000 associates to continue to provide the highest quality of care and to live up to the promise in the KidsPeace mission – to provide hope, help and healing to all our clients, now and in the future.”
Healthcare Recruiters
Cejka Executive Search, based in St. Louis, has provided recruiting services exclusively to the healthcare industry for more than 35 years. Its client roster includes Georgetown University Hospital, Northwestern Memorial, Levine Cancer Institute, St. John Providence Health System, Tenet, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, Centene Corp., Cape Fear Valley Health and Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.
Tapping Outside Talent for Life Science and Healthcare
For these top 50 executive recruiters working in the life science and healthcare sectors, the last decade has been one of transformation. Pressure on pricing, regulatory changes, emerging innovations, growth and an uncertain political environment have all helped shape a new field of play.
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The firm has conducted searches for an array of roles, including chief medical information officer, chief compliance officer, chief of oncology, chief medical officer, chief of pediatrics, chief of neurology, chief nursing officer, CEO, CFO, COO, department chair, chief clinical officer, medical director and chief strategy officer.
Mr. Esselman has years of results-oriented leadership experience within healthcare, helping board members and senior executives define and secure the leadership talent organizations they need. As managing director, he provides strategic oversight and operational direction for the Cejka Executive Search team and is involved in nurturing the firm’s long-term client and talent relationships. Mr. Esselman provides client consultation for senior-level executive search engagements, with a focus on C-suite positions and assisting with organization development and succession planning strategies.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
