$5B firm assigns new leaders

NAPLES -- Health Management Associates Inc. (symbol: HMA) named the third of its three regional presidents this week, part of a new growth initiative for the hospital management firm.

HMA divided its 66 hospitals into three regions on Jan. 1: the Eastern Group, Southern and Western Group, and Florida Group. This week, the company named John Starcher president of the Eastern Group, effective Feb. 27.

The Florida Group is led by Alan Levine, while Joe Pinion is president of the Southern and Western Group.

Through its subsidiaries, Naples-based Health Management Associates Inc. operates 66 hospitals, with approximately 10,400 licensed beds located throughout the United States.

The company's common stock has recovered somewhat from a steep drop in price on Jan. 10, when rumors about the impact of a pending lawsuit pushed the price to a new 52-week low, below $5 a share.

In early Friday trading, HMA's stock price was up near the $6.50 mark, a 30% recovery over a three-week timeframe.