LOUISVILLE, Ky. (October 30, 2014) — Benjamin A. Breier, 43, will become Kindred Healthcare CEO and a member of the board of directors next March 31, succeeding Paul Diaz who will become executive vice chairman of the Kindred board.
“I am honored by the opportunity to lead a dynamic organization like Kindred,” Breier said. “I look forward to continuing the mission of making post-acute care more efficient and accessible to the nation’s healthcare beneficiaries. Paul led Kindred through an amazing organizational transformation over the last decade. I am fortunate that, in his new role, he will assist me in the transition, and be actively involved in supporting critical areas including advancing our public policy agenda, network development and strategic planning. I am glad I will have my friend and partner with us as we continue our journey together.”
Breier joined Kindred in August 2005 as president of the Rehabilitation Division. In March 2008 he was named president of the Hospital Division. He was promoted to chief operating officer in August 2010, and additionally became president in May 2012.
Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare is a FORTUNE 500 healthcare services company with annual revenues of $5 billion. A top-150 private employer in the United States, it has 63,000 employees at 2,353 locations in 47 states.
Breier came to Kindred from Concentra Inc., where he had been vice president and then senior vice president of operations. He previously was CEO of Premier Practice Management Inc., a subsidiary of Premier Inc., the largest hospital group purchasing alliance in the United States.
Breier has a bachelor’s in economics from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania and an MBA and an MHA from The University of Miami (Fla.). In 2010, Modern Healthcare magazine named Breier to its “Up & Comers” list of leaders aged 40 and under making a difference in healthcare.
“Ben is a strong leader with an intimate understanding of Kindred and each of its businesses,” said Phyllis R. Yale, chair of Kindred’s board. “The board is confident that he will successfully direct Kindred’s growth and capabilities to create solutions for our nation’s healthcare delivery system. The board also appreciates Paul’s outstanding leadership and many contributions, and looks forward to his transitional support and ongoing strategic involvement with the company. Since joining Kindred in January 2002, Paul has been instrumental in advancing the company’s mission and in creating the nation’s largest, fully diversified post-acute and rehabilitation care provider.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the company and our dedicated teammates over the past 12 years,” Diaz said. “While the time is right for me and my family to transition from the day-to-day leadership of the company, I am confident in Ben’s abilities to carry forward our shared vision for Kindred, its mission and strategy.
“During Ben’s tenure as president, he significantly enhanced both the quality outcomes Kindred cares so deeply about and the operational excellence for which Kindred has come to be known. Ben has continued to drive performance, efficiencies of service and enhanced employee engagement. Over the last several years, Ben has been my partner in every way, leading our Continue the Care Strategy in our Integrated Care Markets, the integration of RehabCare in 2011, as well as the significant repositioning of the company, and more recently the announcement of our agreement to acquire Gentiva Health Services,” Diaz said. “His passion for our people and patients gives me the confidence that he will create ongoing success for the company and deliver value for our patients, teammates, and shareholders well into the future.”
Kindred and its subsidiaries provide healthcare services through 97 transitional care hospitals, five inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, 98 nursing centers, 21 sub-acute units, 153 Kindred at Home hospice, home health and non-medical home care locations, 104 inpatient rehabilitation units (hospital-based) and a contract rehabilitation services business, RehabCare, which served 1,875 non-affiliated facilities.
It has ranked as one of Fortune magazine’s Most Admired Healthcare Companies for six years in a row. Kindred’s mission statement is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder.
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