Bon Secours, Mercy unveil merger details

Two Catholic health-care organizations, Maryland-based Bon Secours Health System and Ohio-based Mercy Health, have announced new details of a merger they first announced in February

The health systems expect to combine this fall, creating Bon Secours Mercy Health.

Bon Secours, which has its headquarters in Marriottsville, Md., is the parent company of Richmond-based Bon Secours Virginia Health System., which operates seven hospitals in Central Virginia and Hampton Roads.

John M. Starcher Jr.. the president and CEO of Cincinnati-based Mercy Health, will lead the Bon Secours Mercy Health.

Rich Statuto, the president and CEO of Bon Secours Health System, will serve as adviser, primarily focused on strategic growth and innovation, before retiring next year.
Starcher was named president and CEO of Mercy Health in 2016 after 13 years with the organization.

He was CEO of three of four Mercy divisions and also served as its senior vice president of human resources and assistant general counsel.

Bon Secours Mercy Health will operate under one board of directors, led by Chris Allen, who currently serves as chair of the Bon Secours Board of Trustees. Katherine Vestal, current chair of the Mercy Health Board of Trustees, will serve as vice chair.

At this time, all Bon Secours and Mercy Health facilities will maintain current names and signage.

Mercy Health is the largest health system in Ohio and among the top five employers in the state. It has more than 33,500 employees serving communities throughout Ohio and in Kentucky.

Bon Secours has operations in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and New York, employing more than 24,000 people.