Spencer Stuart Recruits CEO for Tivity Health

July 27, 2023 – Spencer Stuart has placed Hill Ferguson as the new president and chief executive officer of Tivity Health, a Franklin, TN-based provider of healthy lifestyle solutions, including SilverSneakers, Prime Fitness, Burnalong, and WholeHealth Living. Richard Ashworth recently stepped down to pursue another opportunity. Stone Point Capital, which acquired Tivity Health in 2022, was seeking a leader to sustain Tivity Health’s growth, maximize expansion opportunities, and continue to diversify the business.
“With Hill we have an innovative leader who will ensure that we continue to deliver world class solutions for our clients and partners and achieve new pathways for growth,” said Chuck Davis, chairman and CEO, Stone Point Capital. “Hill is a strong strategic and cultural fit who is passionate about healthcare innovation, product development, and consumer experience, and we’re excited to welcome him to Tivity Health.”
Mr. Ferguson was previously CEO of Doctor On Demand where he led development of a next generation virtual care delivery platform, with a strong provider network used by employer and health plan partners. Under his leadership, the company experienced exponential growth and merged with Grand Rounds to form Included Health in 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Ferguson led consumer experience and product development at PayPal.
“Tivity Health has an exceptional mission and purpose, talented and passionate colleagues, and is a healthy, growing business,” said Mr. Ferguson. “I’m honored to help create the next chapter for this organization, building on its strong foundation to continue to make a positive difference in the health and well-being of millions of Americans.”
Tivity Health is committed to an engagement and expansion strategy that includes expanding virtual and in-person opportunities for members of SilverSneakers, a fitness program for older adults. The company launched SilverSneakers LIVE during the pandemic to provide a digital option to its members and continues to work closely with members, partners, and health plan clients to create additional value and drive growth.
Related: Spencer Stuart Assists the National Council on Aging with CEO Search
“We have more ways than ever to engage SilverSneakers members in activities that support better health, both virtually and in person,” said Caroline Khalil, COO of Tivity Health. “As we move beyond the effects of the pandemic, we are focused on engaging our eligible members and we’ve seen significant increases in participation since the beginning of the year. Our goal is to meet seniors where they are in their fitness journey, so they can experience the many benefits of SilverSneakers, which includes lower healthcare costs and improved health outcomes.”
Serving Healthcare Organizations
Privately held since 1956, Spencer Stuart focuses on delivering knowledge, insight, and results through the collaborative efforts of a team of search professionals — now spanning 56 offices, 30 countries, and more than 50 practice specialties. The firm helps boards and leaders address their leadership needs in areas such as senior-level executive search, board recruitment, board effectiveness, succession planning, in-depth senior management assessment and many other facets of organizational effectiveness.
Healthcare Trust of America Taps Spencer Stuart to Find New CEO
Healthcare Trust of America Inc. (HTA), based in Scottsdale, AZ, confirmed that Spencer Stuart has been retained to assist the organization’s board of directors in identifying the company’s next chief executive officer. Peter N. Foss, an independent director of the board, is serving as interim president and chief executive officer while the search process is ongoing.
Spencer Stuart has helped build the leadership teams of some of the world’s preeminent healthcare organizations. In the past three years, it has conducted more than 2,000 board director and senior-level executive assignments around the world, across all healthcare disciplines. With a reach extending beyond geographies, Spencer Stuart searches across disciplines, often outside the healthcare sector, to find candidates in emerging areas to help clients respond to changing industry dynamics. The firm has a special expertise in all facets of healthcare, including biopharma, healthcare services, and medical technology.
Current Search
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recently announced that Spencer Stuart will lead the search to hire ASA’s next CEO. ASA’s current CEO, Paul Pomerantz, FACHE, will retire at the end of his contract in April 2024, after 11 years of leadership at the Society. “Spencer Stuart led our successful CEO search in 2012 and we are anticipating another extensive, competitive, and rigorous selection process to find the most qualified candidate to become ASA’s next CEO,” said Michael W. Champeau, president of ASA.
Dr. Champeau established an ad hoc committee on CEO search to work with Spencer Stuart to identify and vet candidates for the CEO position, and to ensure an appropriate succession plan is in place for a smooth transition of leadership for ASA’s 56,000 members and staff. A second committee, comprised of voting members of the board of directors, will make the final selection. “I take this aspect of my legacy as president extremely seriously as I recognize the importance of our CEO recruitment and selection process to the future of our society,” said Dr. Champeau. “I am confident that Spencer Stuart and our ad hoc committee will find ASA’s next extraordinary leader.”
Related: How COVID-19 Has Reset the Talent Game in Healthcare and Life Sciences
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media