ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

ST. LOUIS — The CEO of the BJC Health System is retiring in October after seven years leading the organization, Missouri’s largest private employer.

Rich Liekweg, who took over as CEO in 2018, will retire on Oct. 1, BJC said Wednesday in a news release.

“Under Liekweg’s visionary leadership, BJC has grown to be one of the largest nonprofit academic health systems in the United States and a powerful economic engine that helps lift the entire Midwest region,� BJC said in a statement.

Nick Barto, current president of the system, will replace Liekweg, BJC said.

Liekweg oversaw the merger in 2024 between St. Louis-based BJC and Saint Luke’s in Kansas City, which expanded the organization’s reach into Kansas, BJC said.

Liekweg started his work in health care nearly 40 years ago, BJC said. He started working for BJC in 2009 as president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, the nonprofit said.

He became president of BJC HealthCare in 2015, the brand under which the organization operates in the St. Louis region.

“It has been an honor to serve and lead our team members these past 16 years as they deliver exceptional care to our patients and communities,� Liekweg said in a statement.

Liekweg has also served on the board of Greater St. Louis, the region’s main business lobby.

Greater St. Louis on Wednesday noted Liekweg’s work during the pandemic to coordinate with other area health systems.

“At a critical time of community need, Rich partnered with other health systems to lead the St. Louis Regional Pandemic Task Force, which has become a model for teamwork in a time of crisis,� Dustin Allison, interim CEO of Greater St. Louis, said in a statement.

BJC said it has 47,000 employees and operates 24 hospitals and over 250 clinics and service centers in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.