William Newton Hospital CEO Brian Barta has tendered his resignation and will depart at the end of this month, the hospital announced in a statement released Friday morning. Barta joined William Newton Hospital in 2018 as Chief Financial Officer and has served as CEO since 2022.
The board accepted his resignation on Thursday following a special executive session.
For some time, officials said, trustees have been strategically assessing the need to strengthen the hospital’s leadership to meet its future direction.
“After careful consideration, I decided to step down to better facilitate the leadership change,” said Barta.
“The Board of Trustees acknowledges Brian for his dedication and contributions to William Newton Hospital. We appreciate his service and wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Gail Sawyer, Board Chair. “Our commitment to upholding our mission of providing exceptional care to our community remains. We are dedicated to ensuring the long-term success and stability of the hospital.”
Sawyer announced the appointment of an Interim CEO, Gigi “G.F.” Fergus, MBA, BSN, RN. Fergus will begin on Aug. 1. The hospital said she is a seasoned healthcare executive and consultant with over 25 years of experience in for profit and non-profit hospitals throughout the U.S.
“With a comprehensive executive management and nursing practice background, she has brought about transformation in HCAHPS scores, regulatory compliance, leadership development, financial outcomes, and patient experience,” according to the written statement.
“The Board is confident in Ms. Fergus’s ability to lead William Newton Hospital through this period and continue our tradition of high-quality patient care and strong community focus,” Sawyer said. “We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and supporting our providers and staff.”
Further updates will be provided as the process to appoint a permanent CEO progresses.
