Furst Group Places Chief People Officer at BHSH System
October 12, 2022 – Executive search firms have been stepping up their efforts to assist companies across the nation to find new chief people officers. Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, recently assisted in recruiting Tracie Morris as the new chief people officer of BHSH System, a not-for-profit health system in Michigan. “Tracie shares our passion for a high-performing culture and investing in our people,” said Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of BHSH System. “She, working with our teams, will be integral as we reimagine our workforce and workplace, ensuring we are realizing our mission. Tracie has the vision and experience to make an immediate and positive impact for our teams, organization and communities. We are grateful for the Furst Group’s assistance in conducting a national search for our chief people officer.”
Ms. Morris comes to BHSH System from BMO Financial Group, where she was senior vice president, chief human resources officer, and chief inclusion officer since 2019. In every role of her 30-year career, she has led the talent strategy, organizational effectiveness and execution of inclusion and talent programs.
In her new position with BHSH System, Ms. Morris will be integral in developing inspirational and innovative people strategies that will propel the organization forward to thrive in a vibrant and inclusive culture. She will be expected to champion the programs and initiatives that impact our people, such as learning, development, recruitment, retention, culture, and well-being.
“The future of work is evolving and it is exciting to be on the BHSH System team to envision new ways of working and preparing for how to best support talent in the integrated delivery of health care and coverage,” said Ms. Morris. “I look forward to championing the strategies and supporting leaders so that team members and clinicians can do their best work.”
Related: Furst Group Recruits CEO for American Diabetes Association
Formed from two leading health systems in Michigan (Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health), BHSH System provides care and coverage with a team of more than 64,000 people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses offering services in 22 hospitals, 300-plus outpatient locations, and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving over 1.2 million members across Michigan.
Healthcare Recruiting
Furst Group, which is headquartered in Rockford, IL, partners with many of the premier healthcare organizations in the world, from providers and payers to life-science companies and private equity/venture capital firms. While Furst Group’s roots are in managed care, the firm continues to be one of the nation’s leading executive search partners to health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers, post-acute, and hospice and palliative care facilities. Its work with insurers stretches back to the HMO era, yet the firm also teams with life science, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies.
Furst Group Recruits CFO for Baystate Health
Furst Group assisted Baystate Health in Springfield, MA, in the hiring of Raymond McCarthy as treasurer and CFO. Mr. McCarthy has served as interim CFO since March. “Ray has worked tirelessly and skillfully to keep our health system financially stable during the pandemic and the accompanying recession, ensuring that Baystate Health got its fair share of state and federal relief dollars and deployed its resources flexibly and effectively,” said Mark A. Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health.
Furst Group also has offices in Phoenix, AZ; Radnor, PA; San Francisco; Brentwood, TN; Chicago; Irving, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Seattle; St. Louis; and Washington, D.C.
Late last year, Furst Group recruited Audrey Williams-Lee as chief people officer of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The hospital said it changed the title of this role from chief human resources officer to emphasize the importance of people in advancing its mission. “Audrey brings impressive experience leading a diverse, service-oriented workforce in major companies, such as the Hyatt Hotels Corp. and McDonald’s Corp.,” said Tom Shanley, president and CEO of Lurie Children’s Hospital. “We expect to benefit from her new perspectives, rich experience in human resources and deep commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome her enthusiasm to help us successfully navigate the transformational changes facing Lurie Children’s as the healthcare industry moves into the future.”
Related: Furst Group Assists Medica in CTO Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
