Premier Inc. announced that after nearly 18 years of distinguished service, Susan DeVore is retiring as the company’s chief executive officer and a member of its Board of Directors, effective May 1, 2021. Michael J. Alkire, president of Premier, will succeed DeVore and serve as president, CEO and a member of the Board, also effective May 1, 2021.
To ensure a smooth transition, DeVore will remain with Premier through June 30, 2021, and will continue as an advisor to the company for two years after that.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of the Board’s diligent, long-range succession planning process and comes at a time when the company is well positioned to further advance its strategic objectives and create long-term stockholder value,” said Board Chair Terry Shaw. “I believe Mike is the ideal person to lead the ongoing evolution of Premier’s long-term strategy. He is a talented executive and strong leader who has played a key role in driving Premier’s growth and success. Mike has a deep understanding of the company and its industry, and his insights will be instrumental as we further differentiate Premier with innovative offerings that enhance service, performance and value for all stakeholders.”
Alkire, who joined Premier in 2003, is a seasoned healthcare executive with nearly 30 years of operational, technology and business development leadership experience. He was named chief operating officer in 2013 and president in 2019. As president, he leads the continued advancement of Premier’s strategy to support members in providing higher quality healthcare at lower costs through the company’s clinical, financial, supply chain and operational performance improvement offerings. Under Alkire’s leadership, the company has produced significant financial growth since its IPO, expanded member purchasing volume through its GPO portfolio from $40 billion in 2012 to $67 billion, and strengthened its member relationships resulting in consistently high retention and renewal rates.
In his role as president, Alkire also leads the evolution of Premier’s Performance Services business, which combines artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology, data and actionable insights with wraparound implementation services to improve health outcomes and reduce total costs. With his broad technology experience, he has led the implementation of machine learning and AI into Premier’s clinical decision support platform to streamline the prior authorization process for payors, improve health system performance, provide real-world evidence capabilities to life sciences companies, and support the alignment of health systems with employers.
In 2010, Alkire helmed the launch of Premier’s direct sourcing business, and through the continued growth and geographic diversification of this business, combined with Premier’s co-investment with member health systems in two domestic personal protective equipment manufacturers, the company is helping create a more resilient healthcare supply chain.
Prior to joining Premier, Alkire worked for 12 years at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in leadership roles including North American responsibilities for its supply chain and high-tech manufacturing sector. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana State University and his MBA from Indiana University.
