BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE: BKD) has announced that Mark Ohlendorf, the company’s president and chief financial officer, will transition from his current dual roles to focus fully on his role as president. The company also announced that Gregory Richard, the company’s chief operating officer, will step down effective Sept. 30.
Richard, who joined Brookdale through the merger of American Retirement Corporation and Brookdale in 2006, has served as COO since 2013 and as executive vice president of field operations prior to that.
As president, Ohlendorf will immediately assume a role in Brookdale’s operations leadership and will direct the company’s innovation initiatives. He has served as the company’s president since June 2013 and chief financial officer since March 2007. He previously served as the company’s co-president from August 2005 until June 2013.
Ohlendorf joined Brookdale through its merger with Alterra Healthcare Corporation in August 2005, where he was CEO and president since December 2003. Ohlendorf currently serves on the board of directors of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) and previously served as chairman of that board from 2011 to 2013.
Brookdale has initiated a search process to identify a new CFO and a COO, and has retained Heidrick & Struggles, an executive search firm, to assist in the process. The Company will consider both external and internal candidates. Ohlendorf will continue to serve as CFO until a successor is appointed.
Based in Brentwood, Tenn., near Nashville, Brookdale is a seniors housing owner/operator. As of 2014, the company was the largest operator in the country with 647 properties comprised of over 66,000 units, and third-largest owner behind only Ventas and Health Care REIT.