St. Elizabeth’s names Partners executive as president

Steward Health Care System has named a veteran health care executive to be president of its flagship hospital, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton.

Craig Williams is currently executive director for global programs at Partners HealthCare International and held top administrative posts at other hospital and medical operations.

“Craig is an experienced health care leader with an impressive record of success over his 25-year career at hospitals and health systems,” John Polanowicz, executive vice president of Steward’s hospital services group, said in an announcement sent to St. Elizabeth’s employees Tuesday. “He comes to us with goals that include fostering effective collaboration among St. Elizabeth’s 2,500 employees, improving our operations to strengthen care and fiscal stability, and building upon St. Elizabeth’s nationally-recognized standards of care and safety.”

In a statement Williams, 46, said he was looking forward taking the helm in April. “I am very impressed by the capabilities of the Medical Center and by the services being provided by the hospital’s entire health care team,” he said.

Williams will be at least the seventh leader at St. Elizabeth’s in as many years.

The previous president, Beth Hughes, left in December after just one year, and the post has been filled on an interim basis by Joseph Ciccolo, who will resume his postion as chief administration officer for Steward hospitals.

In his role at Partners HealthCare International, the global division of Partners HealthCare, Williams, who lives in Wakefield, helped hospitals in other countries improve operations.

Previously, he served as the chief operating officer for Tufts Medical Center, the Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization, and Elliot Health System in Southern New Hampshire.

Steward is the largest for-profit hospital company in Massachusetts. It runs nine hospitals, including the former Caritas Christi system previously operated by the Archdiocese of Boston.

The 267-bed St. Elizabeth’s reported operating profits of $13.6 million in 2015, and $16.7 million in 2014.