Ben Spence

With nearly 30 years of experience in various roles at Lee Health, Ben Spence was named chief operating officer of the health care system. In this new role, Spence will oversee the systemwide clinical and financial operations, facilities management, information technology services, supply-chain management, analytics and revenue cycle management.

He joined Lee Memorial Health System in 1995 and was chief financial and business services officer. Spence led the system’s strategic growth capital plan, including expanding the health system and its locations. In addition, he helped launch and develop a Medicare accountable care organization, a Medicaid provider-sponsored plan, a direct-to-employer health network, a specialty pharmacy, physician and pharmacy residency programs and value-based contracts with payers.

He led programs and initiatives that enabled Lee Health to improve its S&P credit rating to A+ and grow its positive cash flow to more than $300 million per year, with annual revenues of more than $3.2 billion.

Lee Health officials said an active search is underway for the next CFO. In the interim, Spence will continue to fulfill that role.