UNC Health Southeastern Board of Trustees introduces new President and CEO 

UNC Health Southeastern Board Chair Wayland Lennon announced today the appointment of Chris Ellington as the health system’s new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Last week, current UNC Health Southeastern President and CEO Joann Anderson announced her plans to retire effective at the end of 2021.  Ellington will assume the role of President and CEO in October and Anderson will shift to an advisory role for the remainder of her tenure.

“We are pleased to announce Mr. Ellington’s decision to join our organization,” stated Lennon. “We became closely acquainted with Chris during our partnership exploration process with UNC Health, where he learned a great deal about not only our organization but also our community. Having that knowledge and choosing to join our team assures me that he is fully aware of the uniqueness of our community and our patient population, that he has a heart for rural healthcare and a desire to help us move forward with the progress made by his predecessor.”

Ellington currently serves as president of UNC Health Care Network Hospitals.  Along with his statewide focus, Ellington served concurrently as the executive vice president and chief financial officer for UNC Hospitals from 2008 to 2020.  Before joining UNC in 2008, Ellington served in senior leadership roles in multi-entity healthcare systems in Kentucky, West Virginia, Alabama and Texas.

Ellington serves on the Boards of the North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA), UNC’s Health Alliance and Senior Health Alliance, as well as UNC Health Care affiliated entities Caldwell UNC Health Care, Pardee UNC Health Care and UNC Rockingham Health Care.

Ellington earned his B.S. in accounting from Clemson University and his MBA from the University of Phoenix.

“I am very excited to join UNC Health Southeastern and to lead the organization entrusted with the health of North Carolinians in the region,“ Ellington said. "I look forward to relocating to the area, joining the team and getting to know the residents of Robeson County and the surrounding communities.”