HIMSS has named Harold "Hal" Wolf III to be its new president and chief executive officer, following an extensive search process, the association announced Wednesday.

He will succeed H. Stephen Lieber, who is stepping down as HIMSS CEO after more than 17 years.

Wolf has more than three decades of experience working in healthcare and technology, with deep expertise in integrated care models, consumer engagement, broadband and other IT innovation.

[Also: HIMSS CEO plans to step down in 2017]

Most recently, he has served as director of information and digital health strategy at The Chartis Group, where he helped health systems in the development of integrated information, operations, digital health and precision medicine strategies.

Prior to that, Wolf spent 10 years as chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente's Federation, where he focused on care delivery, data governance, population health management and more.

He also worked as chief information officer for Quest Communications/USWest, and started his career in the media industry at MTV Networks and Time Warner, where he was an innovator in the development of video on demand and broadband.

Wolf has served HIMSS for four years, as an advisor to the board and as a member of the board of directors, and recently as vice chair. He also serves as a board member and officer of the International Care Delivery Alliance.

"The search process focused on finding the right candidate possessing some key characteristics: healthcare and technology expertise, global experience and prior work in and with both for-profit and not-for-profit companies," Lieber said. "Hal checks all of these boxes in spades.

"Hal is a globally respected thought leader and he has been part of the HIMSS leadership as a board member for the past four years," Lieber added. "He knows the issues and he knows the organization. That's an incredible combination and contribution to HIMSS' work to achieve better care through IT. "

"Hal Wolf brings to his new role as president and CEO of HIMSS the powerful combination of broad, deep and relevant knowledge, expertise, experience, energy and accomplishments, along with a deep love of and longstanding commitment to HIMSS," said Michael Zaroukian, MD, HIMSS board chair. "His track record of innovation and success spans premier healthcare delivery organizations, digital strategy groups, media companies, global endeavors and more."

Wolf is expected to start in September 2017 and will assume the full duties of president and CEO by the end of the year.

"It is a great privilege and honor to be chosen to lead HIMSS, an organization whose purpose is to improve healthcare and care outcomes," said Wolf.

"Across the globe, healthcare is challenged to harness the power of information and technology, to solve for the unique environments of each health system and to support the personalization of care to the individual," he added. "In alliance with the growing membership of HIMSS and the expansive capabilities of our organization, our collective task is to enable innovation across the full healthcare ecosystem."

HIMSS is the parent company of Healthcare IT News.

Twitter: @MikeMiliardHITN
Email the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com

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