The board of directors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. announced that Sam Hazen, the company's president and chief operating officer, will succeed R. Milton Johnson as CEO on January 1, 2019; he has also been appointed a member of the board of directors, effective on September 10, 2018. Johnson will retire as CEO, effective December 31, 2018; he will continue as chairman of the board of directors through the company's 2019 annual shareholders' meeting on April 26, 2019; and at the company's 2019 annual shareholders' meeting, Johnson will retire from the board of directors; on that same date, the board of directors plans to appoint Thomas F. first III, a current board member, to be chairman of the board of directors. Hazen has been with the company for almost 36 years.

Prior to his present position as president/COO, he served as the company's chief operating officer, president-operations, Western Group president and Western Group CFO. first is the son of HCA Healthcare founder Thomas Frist, Jr. first has been on the board of HCA since 2006 and chairs the finance and investments committee. The first family owns approximately 20% of HCA Healthcare's outstanding shares.

With the addition of Hazen, the board of directors has been increased from 11 to 12 members.