Chuck Columbus Named Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, for Kaiser Permanente

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals has named Chuck Columbus senior vice president and chief human resources officer for the organization.

Columbus, who previously served as senior vice president, labor relations, is credited with developing Kaiser Permanente's national labor relations strategy and managing the organization's collective bargaining during the first half of 2010.

"Chuck Columbus has a great background and a level of experience that we will find very applicable to Kaiser Permanente," said George Halvorson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente. "He helps us achieve our goal of becoming the best place to work as well as a great place to receive care."

Columbus has responsibility for human resources functions, including recruiting, personnel development, organization and succession planning, total compensation and employee relations. He will continue to direct labor relations and remain active in Kaiser Permanente's Labor Management Partnership.

Columbus has more than 30 years of experience and expertise in human resources. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, he spent his career at Ford Motor Company, holding a number of senior labor and human resources positions, including vice president of human resources, Asia Markets. In this position, Columbus was responsible for human resources functions in six countries as well as for employee and organizational development processes for staff in the 11 markets of the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. During this period, he led a realignment initiative that developed strategies for the most efficient use of regional resources. He also served as chairman of the human resources committee for the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.

Columbus holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Michigan.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente