Carl Armato will retire as president and CEO of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health on Dec. 31, after nearly 15 years in the role. John Gizdic, executive vice president and COO, will become president and interim CEO Jan. 1, 2027.
Mr. Armato joined Novant Health in 1998 as vice president of finance and operations for its physician divisions in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, according to a Nov. 10 news release. He held several leadership roles, including system COO, before being named president and CEO in January 2012.
Under his leadership, Novant Health added hospitals including New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., and Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy, N.C., and opened medical centers in Mint Hill, Ballantyne and Scotts Hill. The system said its operating revenue grew from about $3.5 billion in 2012 to nearly $12 billion in 2025. It now has 45,000 employees, 22 hospitals and about 900 locations across North Carolina and South Carolina.
Mr. Gizdic has served as COO since May 2024 and was named executive vice president and chief administrative officer in 2021. He previously spent more than 15 years at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, including as president and CEO starting in 2017.
“After thoughtful consideration, the board unanimously concluded that John Gizdic is the right person to lead Novant Health through this transition,” Christine Katziff, chair of the Novant Health board of trustees, said in the release.
