Memorial Hermann Will Transition CEO by End of 2026
Houston’s largest health system prepares for a leadership change as the board elevates internal talent to succeed David Callender.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Healthcare
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David Callender will retire as CEO of the Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System by the end of 2026. The board has selected current executive vice president and CFO Alec H. King to serve as his successor.
Why it matters
The leadership change marks a pivotal shift for a system that expanded from $2.9 billion in annual revenue in 2011 to $8.5 billion in fiscal year 2025. Incoming leadership will be tasked with stabilizing institutional operations following recent federal scrutiny regarding the health system’s abdominal transplant program.
Memorial Hermann grew its annual revenue to $8.5 billion in 2025, up from $2.9 billion in 2011. The outgoing CEO, David Callender, earned roughly $6 million in the fiscal year ending June 2025.
The players
David Callender
The current CEO of Memorial Hermann who previously served as president of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Alec H. King
The executive vice president and CFO of Memorial Hermann who has been named as the incoming CEO.
Memorial Hermann Health System
A major nonprofit healthcare organization operating in Houston with an annual revenue of $8.5 billion.
Dr. J. Stevenson Bynon
A physician currently facing five federal charges related to making false statements in healthcare matters.
The details
The board initiated a deliberate succession plan to ensure continuity, tapping Alec H. King to take the helm. This transition comes as the organization manages the aftermath of federal sanctions that forced a temporary closure of its abdominal transplant program in 2024. The system, which recently reactivated the program in April 2025, remains under pressure following federal charges filed against Dr. J. Stevenson Bynon for allegedly making false statements in healthcare matters.
Timeline
2019: David Callender became CEO of Memorial Hermann.
April 2025: The abdominal transplant program was reactivated.
June 2025: The fiscal year concluded for the health system.
End of 2026: David Callender is scheduled to officially retire.
Market Landscape
The leadership handoff follows the 2024 inactivation of the Memorial Hermann abdominal transplant program, which brought federal oversight to the system's clinical governance. The transition marks a strategic pivot to restore organizational stability after corrective plans were submitted to federal regulators.
Operators in the healthcare space should monitor how the new CEO manages the lingering compliance requirements associated with the recent transplant program sanctions. Stakeholders should also track whether this change results in shifts to the system's capital expenditure or long-term growth strategy.
The takeaway
Large health systems undergoing leadership changes during periods of federal scrutiny often face heightened operational audits. Operators should verify their internal compliance reporting structures against federal standards to ensure transparency in clinical governance.
Further reading
For more on the local medical sector, visit the Healthcare section.
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