Larry Heydon has resigned suddenly from the top leadership position at Johnson Memorial Health, the board of trustees announced Thursday.
He served as Johnson Memorial’s president and CEO for more than a decade, and had also worked previously as vice president and chief financial officer.
He resigned late Wednesday night in a letter to hospital board members, said Sandi Huddleston, chairwoman of the board of trustees. She would not answer questions about what prompted the resignation, which was effective immediately.
“He resigned last night, effective immediately. End of story,” Huddleston said Thursday.
Heydon’s cell phone was disconnected on Thursday, and he had already been removed from the hospital’s website. He could not be reached for comment.
Hospital officials announced the change to hospital staff on Thursday morning, said Jeff Dutton, marketing director.
Board members notified the Board of Commissioners about the resignation immediately, but did not tell them why, commissioner Ron West said. Johnson Memorial is a non-profit hospital operated by an appointed five-member board of trustees but owned by Johnson County government.
“I figured we’d probably get some more information early next week about why — some answers,” West said.
Dr. David Dunkle has been named interim CEO while the hospital board begins a search for a permanent replacement.
“We thank Larry for his years of service and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Huddleston said in a statement.
Johnson Memorial Health operates a main campus in Franklin, which is in the midst of a $47 million construction project to open a new emergency department and outpatient services building in 2020.
To make way for that expansion, the original hospital building, which opened in 1947, has been demolished.
Johnson Memorial also operates the Greenwood Primary Care Center, the Whiteland Primary Care Center and the Franklin Primary Care Center.
In 2013, Johnson Memorial partnered with Community Health Network to open the Stones Crossing Health Pavilion.
