John Gizdic will be New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s next chief operating officer, hospital officials announced Wednesday.

Gizdic, who has been the hospital’s executive vice president of strategic planning and business development, replaces Matthew Heywood, who recently accepted a job to lead a health care system in Wisconsin.

Gizdic will start in the COO position July 1, according to a news release. He started at New Hanover Regional in 2005 and has more than 20 years of experience in the health care field, the release stated.

“During his eight years with NHRMC, John has worked very closely with our medical staff, executed strategies to help the organization grow and has had operational responsibility for a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical areas,” Jack Barto, hospital president and CEO, said in a statement. “John’s background in hospital operations, physician relations, strategic planning, business development and public relations/marketing position him well for this important leadership role.”

Part of Gizdic’s work at New Hanover Regional in recent years has been developing its NHRMC Physician Group – a network of practices that now includes more than 140 health providers. He also played a key role in opening the hospital’s Brunswick Forest Health & Diagnostics facility.
 
He said he was “looking forward to focusing my attention on the daily operations of this remarkable organization.”

Heywood's last day at New Hanover Regional is June 30. He is moving to become president and CEO of Aspirus Inc., which operates in Wisconsin and upper Michigan. Heywood has been New Hanover Regional’s COO since 2008.