Gary Herbst

The board of directors at Kaweah Delta Health Care District in Visalia has named a new CEO.

After a comprehensive search and interview process, Gary Herbst, Kaweah Delta’s senior vice president and CFO for the past 25 years, will assume leadership of the district on Friday.

“We are all in agreement — Gary is the most qualified candidate and the best choice to lead our district in delivering the highest levels of health care to our community,” said Carl Anderson, board president, in a statement. “Gary is someone with experience running a complex health system like we have at Kaweah Delta. He has the vision and focus necessary to elevate Kaweah Delta’s delivery of healthcare services to the next level as our region grows and our patients’ needs change.”

Herbst says he is excited to serve as Kaweah Delta’s fourth CEO.

“This is an amazing privilege,” Herbst said. “I am humbled by the faith and confidence the board has in me and I am excited to work with this amazing team of nurses, physicians and staff to serve our patients and our community.”

Herbst replaces Lindsay Mann, who after 16 years as CEO recently departed to lead a three-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Mexico City.

Herbst first came to Kaweah Delta from Fresno, where he served as senior manager in the consulting practice of Ernst & Young, one of the world’s largest accounting and consulting firms.

Initially hired as Kaweah Delta’s director of business development in 1992, Gary was promoted to CFO in 1995, and senior vice president in 2001. Herbst spearheaded many important projects and initiatives, including the initial master planning for replacement of the hospital’s downtown campus; creation of the District Hospital Leadership Forum; development of Kaweah Delta’s medical foundation partnership with Visalia Medical Clinic and development of Kaweah Delta’s cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and pediatric and adult hospitalist programs, among other achievements.

“With our new CEO in place, we hope to become even more effective at listening to our staff and to our community,” Anderson said. “This will be a key component in helping us find new and better ways to meet health needs today and for years to come.”