Sentara Healthcare announces leadership promotions

Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare Inc. announced a slate of executive leadership promotions Friday, effective immediately.

Melinda Hancock, Aubrey Layne and Tim Skeen have all been promoted to executive vice presidents.

Hancock was senior corporate vice president and chief administrative officer, and will stay chief administration officer but also become an EVP overseeing internal audit, compliance, legal services, privacy, risk management, supply chain, enterprise analytics, strategy and mergers and acquisitions. She joined Sentara in 2021 from Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, where she was chief administrative officer and chief financial officer. Before that, she was a partner with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, senior vice president and chief financial officer for the Virginia Market of Bon Secours Health System and has worked for Culpeper Regional Hospital and was a health care consultant and auditor for Ernst & Young Global Ltd. and Deloitte LLP.

Layne was promoted from senior corporate vice president and chief of staff to executive vice president of governance and

external affairs. His responsibilities include legislative affairs, community engagement and impact, the Sentara Foundation – Hampton Roads, real estate, construction, marketing, communications and the Sentara College of Health Sciences. Layne served as state secretary of finance under Gov. Ralph Northam and secretary of transportation under Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Northam appointed him to Virginia Port Authority’s board in July 2021. The same month, Layne stepped down as secretary of finance to join Sentara Healthcare.

Skeen has been promoted from senior corporate vice president and chief information officer to CIO and executive vice president. He is responsible for overall information technology and enterprise data vision and strategy, including enabling business growth and operational success. Skeen joined Sentara in November 2020. Before joining Sentara, he held several leadership positions at Anthem Inc. over seven years, including CIO and chief operating officer of the government business division. He has been CIO of Amerigroup Corp., chief technology officer and CIO of health information management at Unisys Corp.

Shannon Murphy has been promoted to chief of staff to President and CEO Dennis Matheis. She was previously Matheis’ chief

of staff at Sentara Health Plans and in operational positions at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.  In her new role, she will serve as a strategic partner to the executive team, supporting decision-making, communication and execution of strategic initiatives across the enterprise.

Matheis took over as CEO on Sept. 1., succeeding Howard P. Kern, who retired after a 42-year career with Sentara.