Kerry Watson will assume the post of chief executive of Durham Regional Hospital Mar. 1 officials announced Thursday.
The appointment was approved by the Durham County Hospital Corp. Jan. 31.
"Kerry has proven himself to be an extremely effective leader, has demonstrated an ability to build strong teams and rally consensus behind major issues and initiatives and has produced solid results," William Fulkerson, CEO of Duke University Hospital, said in a statement. "He has a deep commitment to the community and the patients we serve."
Duke University Health System operates the hospital, which is owned by Durham County.
Watson, who is currently the senior associate operating officer at the hospital, succeeds interim CEO Fran Mauney, who has been at the post since August.
"I am excited and honored by this opportunity to partner with hospital employees, leadership, medical staff and Durham County leadership to continue to build the best health care delivery system for Durham," Watson said in a statement. "Durham Regional has a rich legacy of providing excellent care for patients, and I'm looking forward to being a part of further advancements that will be made over the next many years."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.