EASLEY — The Baptist Easley Hospital board of directors announced Thursday that Michael L. Batchelor has been named as the hospital’s CEO.

“I am pleased to announce the selection of Michael Batchelor,” board chairman Greg Rusnak said. “Michael comes to us with over 20 years of healthcare experience, including progressive leadership in health system and operational management, business development, and team building. While there were several qualified candidates interviewed, the board was impressed with both Michael’s experience and his commitment to the Easley community.”

The Baptist Easley board of directors, working with Atlanta-based search firm Witt-Kieffer, conducted a national search for the candidate from an initial pool of 188 applications. After personal interviews, the consulting firm chose six candidates to be interviewed by the Executive/Governance Committee of the board.

From those six candidates, three finalists were selected to spend two days (individually) being interviewed by senior leaders, board members, representatives from the Medical Executive Committee, the BEH foundation board, and the community, along with the CEOs from Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health System, and Baptist Easley Hospital. After careful review, the board selected Batchelor at its January meeting.

Batchelor comes to Baptist Easley from Greenville Hospital System (GHS), where he has served as president of the North Greenville campus since 2005. Prior to that, he was administrator, clinical/non-clinical support services at GHS from 2001-2005. Starting his career as a combat field medic in 1988 with the U.S. Army, Batchelor served several posts in the U.S. and Germany. He holds a master’s degree in health care management from Troy State University, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, and associate’s degrees from the University of South Carolina. He is a graduate of both Leadership Greenville and Furman University’s Riley Institute for Diversity and holds a Green Belt/Black Belt Lean Six Sigma Certification. He is also a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Batchelor is expected to join Baptist Easley on March 1.
Retiring CEO Roddey E. Gettys, III, has served Baptist Easley Hospital for 43 years.

“The board believes that Michael will be able to build upon the culture and legacy that Roddey leaves behind and lead Baptist Easley into a new phase of growth,” Rusnak said.