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EXHIBIT 99
THURSDAY JUNE 8, 6:39 PM EASTERN TIME
COMPANY PRESS RELEASE
LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS NAMES FLEETWOOD NEW CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
COMPANY ALSO ANNOUNCES RICHARD H. EVANS AS NEW BOARD MEMBER
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BW HealthWire)--June 8, 2000--The Board of Directors of
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPNT - news) today elected James M. Fleetwood,
Jr., LifePoint's President and Chief Operating Officer, to the additional
positions of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fleetwood, age 52, will
assume the positions vacated by the recent death of Scott L. Mercy in an
airplane accident. DeWitt Ezell has served as interim Chairman of the Board
since Mr. Mercy's death. The Board extends its sincere gratitude to Mr. Ezell
for his leadership during the interim period in which he served.
The Company also announced the addition of Richard H. Evans, age 55, to its
Board of Directors. This addition became effective June 1, 2000, and increased
the number serving on the Board to six. Mr. Fleetwood and Mr. Evans will serve
as directors until their terms expire at the Company's annual shareholders'
meeting in 2002.
Mr. Fleetwood is a seasoned executive with 30 years experience in the healthcare
industry. He has served as LifePoint Hospitals' President and Chief Operating
Officer since the Company's inception when it spun off from HCA - The Healthcare
Company in May of 1999. Prior to joining LifePoint, Mr. Fleetwood served HCA as
President of its Florida Group and, prior to joining HCA, served HealthTrust,
Inc. as Regional Vice President of its Gulf Coast Region.
"After getting past the shock of losing Scott to such a tragedy, there was but
one choice of who should fill the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer role.
That choice was obviously Jim. Today, the Board was excited about unanimously
electing Jim to these positions. He is an exceptional hospital operator and will
continue to serve the Company well in his new roles," said Ezell.
Commenting on his appointment to the position of Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Fleetwood said, "While Scott's death is a tragic personal loss to
all of us at LifePoint, we are well-positioned to continue our commitment to the
five core values he helped define. Those values are to deliver high quality
patient care, support our physicians, provide excellent workplaces for our
employees, provide community value, and ensure fiscal responsibility. Scott did
a great job of forming a cohesive management team full of people who are not
only experienced in healthcare management, but who are highly dedicated to these
five values. I will continue to lead that team and, by remaining focused on the
principles on which this company was built, LifePoint Hospitals will continue
its success."
Mr. Evans' business acumen stems from a varied and highly successful career that
includes sports, communications, entertainment, hospitality and
leisure/recreation industries. He currently serves as Chairman of Evans
Holdings, a real estate investment and real estate services company. Prior to
forming Evans Holdings in 1998, Mr. Evans served as President and Chief
Executive Officer for privately-held Huizenga Sports and Entertainment Group;
Chief Operating Officer of Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment Group;
President and Chief Executive Officer of DORNA, USA; President and Chief
Executive Officer of Madison Square Garden Corporation; Chairman, President, and
Chief Executive Officer of Radio City Music Hall Productions, Inc.; and Founder
and President of Leisure General Corporation. He has also worked in design,
construction, and operational planning for Marriott's Great America theme parks,
Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Walt Disney Company. Throughout
his career, numerous directorships and organizational appointments have been
held.
Commenting on the addition of Mr. Evans to the Board, Mr. Fleetwood added, "We
are privileged to have someone of Dick Evans' experience and reputation join our
Board. He is highly regarded around the world, and we look forward to the
contributions he will make to LifePoint Hospitals."
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. was established as a publicly traded company on May
11, 1999, through a spin-off from HCA - The Healthcare Company. LifePoint,
headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, currently owns and operates 21 hospitals
in non-urban areas and is affiliated with over 6,000 healthcare professionals.
Contact:
LifePoint Hospitals Inc., Brentwood
Paula Hutson, 615/372-8500
