The QuadraMed Corp. has picked a somewhat familiar face to become the company’s new chief executive officer.

While Duncan W. James wasn’t part of the company’s hierarchy prior to the Monday announcement, it’s likely they often crossed paths. For the past nine years James has been part of the McKesson Corp., most recently president of McKesson Provider Technologies’ Health Systems Solutions group, where he managed the day-to-day operations of McKesson’s portfolio of clinical, revenue cycle, decision support and enterprise imaging solutions for hospitals and health systems.

"My goal is to take QuadraMed to the next level by continuing to enhance and strengthen QuadraMed's comprehensive suite of solutions," he said Monday.  "We will also continue to position our superb clinical and financial information technologies, including QuadraMed CPR, to help existing and prospective clients meet the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009."

James takes over the executive vice president position for now, and will become CEO upon QuadraMed’s filing of its second quarter Form 10-Q report in early August. He succeeds James E. Peebles.

Peebles, the co-founder of Sunquest Information Systems and a 40-year veteran of the healthcare industry, became QuadraMed’s interim president and CEO this past March, following the departure of longtime president/CEO Keith Hagen for personal reasons.

"QuadraMed welcomes Duncan James, a world-class executive, to his new role as CEO during this critical time of healthcare reform and information technology modernization," Peebles said. "His proven experience, leadership and success in the healthcare technology and electronic health record marketplace make him uniquely qualified to lead QuadraMed to further success. It has been an honor for me to serve as the interim CEO, and I look forward to working with and assisting Duncan from my position on the board of directors.”

James also joins QuadrMed’s board of directors, which is now expanded to seven members.

Prior to working for McKesson, James was employed by HBO & Company, iXL Enterprises and the Digital Equipment Corp.

QuadraMed, based in Reston, Va., offers a wide range of clinical and financial IT solutions and services to the healthcare sector, including clinical, patient information, revenue cycle and health information management software. The company has 2,000 clients in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom and a workforce of approximately 600 people.