Company also announces promotions of William M. Altman and Joseph L. Landenwich
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2012) — Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:KND) announced today that Benjamin A. Breier has been named President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately and reporting to Paul J. Diaz, Kindred’s Chief Executive Officer.
Breier, 41, joined the company in 2005 and has served as chief operating officer since August 2010. From March 2008 until becoming COO, Breier served as president of the company’s hospital division. From August 2005 to March 2008, Breier served as president of the Kindred’s Peoplefirst Rehabilitation Division.
Prior to joining the company in August 2005, Breier served as senior vice president of operations at Concentra, Inc., a leading provider of workers compensation and other occupational health services, where he managed over 1,000 physicians and 1,000 physical therapists.
“Ben’s appointment is a natural progression of our succession planning process,” Diaz said. “Ben has shown tremendous leadership skills and is doing an incredible job running the day to day operations of the company. At the same time, I have committed to the Kindred board of directors that I will continue to be actively involved as chief executive officer in the coming years.”
Breier has been “instrumental” in leading the company’s successful integration efforts following the Vista Healthcare, RehabCare and Professional Healthcare acquisitions, Diaz said.
“Together these acquisitions represent total revenue of approximately $1.5 billion and have contributed approximately $75 million in synergies to the company. Ben continues to drive performance and quality improvements in the company’s core operations and advance our cluster market strategy,” he added.
Kindred also announced that William M. Altman was named executive vice president for strategy, policy and integrated care and Joseph L. Landenwich was named co-general counsel and corporate secretary. Both appointments are effective immediately.
Altman, 52, an attorney, joined the company in 1996 and has served as senior vice president, dtrategy and public policy since January 2008. Altman is assuming additional duties with respect to Kindred’s strategic plan, cluster market and network development activities, and the company’s accelerated efforts to participate in accountable care organizations, various bundled payment demonstrations with health systems, physician groups and managed care payors.
“Bill’s promotion reflects the convergence of our public policy and strategic planning efforts as we work to expand our service lines to meet the needs of a growing high acuity post-acute population and coordinate the patient experience,” Diaz said.
Landenwich, 47, an attorney and certified public accountant, joined Kindred in 1996 and since December 2003, has served as Kindred’s senior vice president of corporate legal affairs and corporate secretary. Prior to joining the company, Landenwich was in the private practice of law.
“Joe’s tireless dedication, expert legal advice and professional counsel over his tenure with Kindred has been instrumental in our strategic growth and development,” Diaz said. “This promotion also recognizes his invaluable leadership in the development efforts of the company and oversight of all our corporate governance policies and procedures and public company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Stock Exchange.”
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