Bill Sugg, president and CEO of Ord, Neb.-based Valley County Health System, resigned following an investigation that revealed allegations of harassment and conflicts of interest, according to a Grand Island Independent report.
Here are 10 things to know about Mr. Sugg, his resignation and the investigation.
1. The Valley County Board of Trustees was notified that Mr. Sugg had submitted his resignation at their meeting on Aug. 19. Upon coming out of executive session, the board voted to accept Mr. Sugg's resignation. The board was then presented with a full investigation report related to the allegations of Mr. Sugg.
2. Mr. Sugg's resignation will take effect Aug. 31, the same day his contract was set to expire.
3. Mr. Sugg has been on investigatory suspension since June 26.
4. Board Chairman Gary Garnick previously said the board learned of allegations against Mr. Sugg in early June and hired an independent investigator to look into the matter, according to the report.
5. Two separate investigations were completed, concluding on June 17 and Aug. 11.
6. According to the Grand Island Independent, the investigator's report included allegations from employees and others, and it said that, although Mr. Sugg contested many of them, they were "alleged by a volume of people and with such consistency so as to discredit Mr. Sugg's statements contesting some allegations."
7. The investigation report overall concluded that Mr. Sugg violated VCHS policy in regard to harassment, unprofessional conduct, discrimination, sexual harassment or workplace violence and that some of his comments "had a negative effect on team members and made some fear for their safety," according to the Grand Island Independent.
The investigation report also concluded that the personal loans Mr. Sugg reportedly took were conflicts of interest, the publication notes.
8. In place of Mr. Sugg, Ashley Woodward, director of finance, will serve as interim CEO of VCHS.
9. Mr. Sugg was hired in August 2012. Prior to VCHS, he was a senior executive adviser and healthcare consultant at World Associates. Before that, he was president and CEO of Gallatin, Tenn.-based Sumner Regional Health Systems, which was acquired by Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Hospitals (now LifePoint Health) in 2010.
10. The Garden Island Independent could not immediately reach Mr. Sugg this week for comment.
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