Lakewood Ranch Medical welcomes new CEO

Richard Fletcher, the chief operating officer of Manatee Memorial Hospital, will be the new Lakewood Ranch Medical Center chief executive officer. 

Kevin DiLallo, the chief executive office of Manatee Healthcare System, which manages both Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch Medical, made the announcement to his employees today.

Jim Wilson, Lakewood Ranch Medical's CEO since 2008, abruptly resigned May 6.

Linda Widra, Lakewood Ranch Medical's chief operating officer, oversaw the hospital's day-to-day operations in the interim.

Fletcher, a life-long Bradenton resident, is a veteran of the Manatee Healthcare System.

He was the COO of Manatee Memorial for four years and before that was an associate administrator at the same hospital. 

He studied biology at the University of South Florida and pharmacy at the University of Florida and served as pharmacy director with the Manatee Healthcare System at one time.

DiLallo credits Fletcher with being responsible for Manatee Memorial's "growth in our CV and robotic surgery programs."

Fletcher and his wife, Karen, have three children: Kayton, 14, Matthew, 7, and Emma, 4.

He will assume his new role Sept. 23. 

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].