John Gizdic will serve as Novant Health’s interim chief executive when the health system’s current CEO, Carl Armato, retires at the end of the year.

Gizdic will step up as acting head of Novant following the retirement of current president and CEO Carl Armato at the end of this year.

Gizdic has served as the nonprofit system’s COO since May 2024, after three years as its chief administrative officer. However, Gizdic’s experience with the health system spans more than 20 years, according to Novant’s Tuesday press release on the leadership transition. That includes 15 years at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, which Novant acquired in 2021.

Novant’s board unanimously decided that Gizdic was the right choice to lead the organization through its CEO transition, according to a statement from Christine Katziff, the chair of Novant’s board. Katziff cited Gizdic’s “operational excellence, strategic vision, hands-on experience, and deep industry expertise.”

Armato will pass the reins on Jan. 1 after nearly three decades at Novant Health, half of which he served as president and CEO. During Armato’s tenure as chief executive, the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based health system grew from $3.5 billion in annual operating revenue to nearly $12 billion, and swelled its net assets from $2.2 billion to $8.2 billion.

However, rising expenses continue to put downward pressure on Novant, prompting it to cut retirement benefits for its employees . Novant also blamed its outsized reliance on Medicare and Medicaid, insurance programs that providers say pay well below the actual cost of care.

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