Memorial Hermann CEO David Callender to Retire; CFO Alec King Named Successor
Memorial Hermann Health System announced that President and CEO Dr. David L. Callender will retire at the end of 2026, concluding a seven-year tenure leading the Houston-based organization. The system’s board has named Alec H. King, Memorial Hermann's current executive vice president and chief financial officer, to succeed him as president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
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The health system described the move as the outcome of a “deliberate, multi-year succession planning process focused on developing strong internal leadership talent,” according to its press release and statements reported by multiple outlets. To facilitate a smooth handover, Callender and King will work together through the end of the year.
Callender has led what is described as Houston's largest healthcare system since 2019. During his leadership, Memorial Hermann’s revenue grew from $5.3 billion in 2019 to $8.5 billion in 2025, according to the Houston Business Journal. His tenure included guiding the 4,255-bed health system through the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Memorial Hermann, his strategic focus centered on improving patient access and experience, creating value for communities and fostering a fulfilling work environment. Before joining Memorial Hermann, Callender was president of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a position he held starting in 2007, the Houston Chronicle reported.
“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to serve Memorial Hermann and the Greater Houston community,” Callender said in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of what our employees and physicians have accomplished for our patients and the communities we serve.”
His departure is the latest among several leadership changes at major Texas Medical Center institutions over the past few years, according to reports from the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Business Journal.
Incoming CEO Alec King is an internal successor, having joined Memorial Hermann as CFO in 2020. The promotion from CFO to CEO signals a leadership profile with deep financial and operational expertise. As CFO, King’s responsibilities have included technology and cybersecurity, supply chain, revenue cycle, payer relations and facilities, according to the health system. Before his time at Memorial Hermann, King was CFO for Children's National Health System in Washington, D.C., and held leadership roles at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Greg Armstrong, chair of the Memorial Hermann Health System Board of Directors, endorsed the selection in a statement. Armstrong said King “brings the vision and leadership to guide Memorial Hermann into the future, along with a critical understanding of today's complex health care environment.”
The transition from a physician-executive in Callender to a finance-executive in King marks a significant shift for the health system. King’s extensive background overseeing core business functions like revenue cycle and payer relations suggests a continued focus on financial performance and operational efficiency as Memorial Hermann navigates the future.
- The promotion from CFO to CEO signals a leadership profile with deep financial and operational expertise.
- The transition from a physician-executive in Callender to a finance-executive in King marks a significant shift for the health system.
- King’s extensive background overseeing core business functions like revenue cycle and payer relations suggests a continued focus on financial performance and operational efficiency as Memorial Hermann navigates the future.