Nearly six months after Cerner lost CEO and Chairman Neal Patterson to an ongoing battle with cancer, the company appointed Brent Shafer as Mr. Patterson's replacement, effective Feb. 1.
At that time, Cerner co-founder Cliff Illig, who has served as interim CEO and chairman of the board since Mr. Patteron's July 2017 passing, will resume his role as vice chairman of the board.
Mr. Shafer previously served as CEO of Philips North America, a company he had been with for 12 years in various roles. He also has senior leadership experience at companies like GE Medical Systems, Hill-Rom Company and Hewlett-Packard.
"For decades, Cerner has built its reputation on meaningful innovation and driving client value," Mr. Shafer said in a press release. "This company's history of remarkable, sustained growth is testament to a strong leadership culture, and I'm excited to celebrate many new milestones with Cerner associates around the world."
Mr. Illig, who founded the EHR giant with Mr. Patterson in 1979, expressed confidence that Mr. Shafer will guide the company in the right direction.
"Brent is a proven chief executive who has helped lead the growth and strategies of a complex, multinational organization over a number of years," Mr. Illig said. "The addition of Brent to our leadership team positions Cerner well for our next era of growth."
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