HealthSearch Partners’ Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley Urge New CEOs to Listen First, Diagnose Early, and Lead with Purpose in the First 90 Days
CEO turnover in U.S. hospitals surged 42 percent in 2023, with 146 leadership changes recorded. HealthSearch Partners' Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley advise incoming health system CEOs to prioritize listening, early organizational diagnosis, and purpose-driven leadership during their first 90 days to build credibility and momentum.
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Key takeaways
U.S. hospital CEO turnover jumped 42% in 2023, underscoring the urgency of effective leadership transitions.
HealthSearch Partners experts recommend new CEOs spend their first 90 days listening and diagnosing organizational culture before acting.
Leading with a clear sense of purpose is identified as a critical factor in establishing trust and long-term effectiveness.
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CEO turnover across U.S. hospitals is accelerating. Hospitals and health systems announced 146 CEO changes in 2023—a 42 percent increase over the 103 exits recorded in 2022, according to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report. As more leaders transition into new roles, the importance of making a good first impression has intensified. The early days of a hospital CEO’s tenure can define their long-term effectiveness. Amid this dynamic, HealthSearch Partners launched a leadership insights series focused on how top executives navigate their first 90 days to build trust, demonstrate presence, and spark institutional change.
So what strategies set successful CEOs apart in the first 90 days and how can future leaders learn from their playbook?
On this episode of I Don’t Care, host Dr. Kevin Stevenson speaks with two industry icons, Neill Marshall, Chairman and Co-Founder of HealthSearch Partners, and Kurt Mosley, Association Practice Leader at the same firm. Together, they reflect on key lessons from their 90-Day CEO series, built on interviews with hospital leaders nationwide.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
- Symbolism Matters: Small, visible actions—like replacing mattresses or rounding on holidays—can signal deep values and create lasting goodwill.
- Listen First, Act Intentionally: The best leaders don’t rush decisions. They prioritize trust-building, cultural alignment, and understanding root issues before implementing change.
- Relationships Are Career Insurance: Leaders must proactively maintain professional relationships—even when secure—to weather transitions and drive long-term success.
Neill Marshall is a veteran healthcare executive search leader with nearly 30 years of experience and over 600 senior-level placements. He co-founded HealthSearch Partners—now the fifth-largest healthcare executive search firm in the U.S.—after leadership roles at firms like Witt/Kieffer and Marshall Koll & Associates. His career has focused on recruiting CEOs, COOs, CFOs, and other top executives for hospitals and health systems nationwide.
Kurt Mosley is the Associations Practice Leader at HealthSearch Partners, bringing over 30 years of experience in healthcare workforce strategy and executive placement. He previously served as Vice President of Strategic Alliances at AMN Healthcare and Merritt Hawkins, where he built partnerships with 25 state hospital associations and numerous healthcare organizations nationwide. A nationally recognized speaker and published expert, Mosley has advised thousands of healthcare leaders on physician supply, workforce trends, and executive recruitment.
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