PICKENS — Norm Rentz, the long-time CEO of Cannon Memorial Hospital, has announced that he will retire from the hospital’s top post, effective Nov. 1. At that time, in an effort to continue his leadership and support in fulfilling Cannon’s mission, he will transition to a consultant role for the Cannon Memorial Foundation. Rentz has served as Cannon’s chief executive officer since 1992.

Under Rentz’s leadership, Cannon has seen many changes, including the construction of a new emergency department with 24-hour staffing, opening of the Eastside and Liberty family practices, and the hiring of physicians and staff for the three Cannon family practices, Cannon Orthopedics and Cannon Surgical. The hospital also has implemented an electronic health record system and became the first hospital in South Carolina to be ISO certified.

In recent years, during a turbulent period for community hospitals, Rentz helped the hospital gain new efficiencies and opportunities for delivery of care through an affiliation with AnMed Health and its parent affiliate, Carolinas HealthCare System.

“I leave Cannon knowing that a wonderful management team is in place,” Rentz said. “I also feel that our partnership with AnMed Health allows Cannon strong support and major growth opportunities in the future. Having been a part of the leadership team at both Cannon and AnMed Health, I am comfortable retiring at this time, knowing Cannon is better positioned for the future.”

Rentz said he looks forward to continued engagement with the hospital and he has agreed to serve as a consultant in a role that will allow him to concentrate on growing the fundraising potential of the Cannon Memorial Foundation.

“Our foundation has been instrumental in helping achieve many of our goals since its establishment in 1992,” he said. “To keep up with the advances in healthcare, the foundation has helped purchase new equipment and added services to meet our community’s needs. Changes, especially in new technology, will require funding that small community hospitals cannot generate from normal operations. The Pickens community has always stepped up to help keep Cannon meet or exceed the high standards, and we know they will continue to support us.”

AnMed Health announced that Brandon Clary will succeed Rentz as CEO of Cannon, while maintaining his current duties as CEO of Elbert Memorial Hospital in Georgia. Clary has more than 14 years of experience in the health care industry, and his successes include an operational and financial turnaround of Edgefield County Hospital, where he served as CEO.

A native of Anderson, Clary is working on his Executive Master of Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He has a double Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and human resources from the University of South Carolina.