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Summa Health CEO Cliff Deveny is stepping down from his role, weeks after the health system finalized a merger with health tech company HATCo. Devey will transition to CEO emeritus and strategic advisor on January 1, 2026, and HATCo President Daryl Tol will serve as acting president and CEO of Summa until a permanent replacement can be found. Summa Health said Deveny will continue to be actively engaged in the organization through 2026 and will be part of the search for a new president and CEO. Why It Matters Summa Health is based in Akron, Ohio, and provides care to more than 1 million patients in five counties throughout Northeast Ohio. It has over 8,500 employees working in acute, critical, emergency, outpatient and long-term care settings. In an internal memo that was shared with Newsweek, Deveny said he remains deeply committed to the organization and the community it serves. “I know that change can feel unsettling,” he said. “But I want you to know this decision has been made thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with Summa’s long-term success in mind. It’s the right decision at the right time – one that will allow us to sustain the progress we’ve made, ensure a smooth, forward-looking transition and a vibrant future.” What To Know Deveny grew up in the Akron area and joined Summa Health to lead the obstetrics and gynecology department in 1997. He later became the vice president of clinical services and services line in 2002 and the president of Summa Physicians Inc. from 2006 to 2011. He then left the health system to pursue leadership at Catholic Health Initiatives and Locus Health before returning to Summa Health as president and CEO in 2017. In his time as president and CEO, Deveny said he is proud of the work he and his team have done to stabilize the organization’s financial position, expand access to care, improve quality and “position Summa as a forward-looking, trusted organization.” HATCo, or Health Assurance Transformation Company, is a new company under General Catalyst that aims to modernize health care systems and accessible through partnerships with technology companies. HATCo announced its intent to acquire Summa Health in January 2024, saying its intention is to “build on and augment the [health] system’s considerable strengths.” The deal was finalized on October 1, 2025. In a statement at the time, HATCo President Daryl Tol said this investment will "ensure Summa Health remains a strong, resilient pillar of the community that endures to serve for generations." “For our teams, that means new technology, resources and support to drive transformation enablement while addressing system fragmentation to make daily work easier," he said. "For patients, it means consistent, reliable care today and a more connected, seamless experience tomorrow as we transform together.” Deveny said in his memo that this partnership "marked an important step toward unlocking new opportunities for innovation, investment and growth to ensure our ability to not only survive, but thrive, over the long-term.” What People Are Saying In an op-ed to the community, Deveny said he joined Summa Health at a time when the organization needed to rebuild trust and stability. “When I look at Summa Health today, I see the same qualities that define Akron: resilience, hardworking, compassionate, and forward-looking,” he said. “We’ve come a long way together, and I have every confidence that our best days are still ahead.” Newsweek reached out to General Catalyst for comment.
