The board of directors of Obici Health System announced on Friday that J. Bland Burkhardt Jr. has been named interim chief executive officer.

This comes just days after the hospital announced the resignation of William Giermack from the top post. Hospital officials would not comment on his department, however, Giermack acknowledged that the board felt it was time for a change in leadership.

Burkhardt, 64, retired in 2000 after 10 years as chief operations officer of Greenville (S.C.) Hospital System, a multi-hospital system, with its main hospital having more than 600 beds.

From 1981-90, Burkhardt served as chief executive officer of Bon Secours-Maryview Hospital Corporation in Portsmouth.

It is anticipated that Burkhardt will serve for approximately three months pending appointment of a permanent chief executive officer. A nation-wide search for a permanent chief executive officer is being conducted by Witt/Kieffer, a recognized leader in such searches.

&uot;Obici Health System remains committed to the delivery of quality healthcare in the area we serve,&uot; reads a statement issued by Obici.

Independently owned Obici Hospital and its parent, Obici Health System, serve residents in Western Tidewater and northeastern North Carolina.

The Suffolk facility continues to honor the legacy of Amedeo Obici, who founded the hospital in memory of his wife, Louise.

As part of that legacy, in 2001, Obici became the first hospital in Hampton Roads to affiliate with a prestigious national network of holistic health-care providers called Planetree.