The president and COO of Capital Senior Living (NYSE: CSU), one of the largest senior living operators in the country, has died after a battle with cancer.
Keith Johannessen, who was also a member of the company’s board of directors, passed away on Dec. 20, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
“Keith was a tireless mentor, leader and friend who has been a part of the Capital Senior Living family since 1993, and he will be greatly missed,” Lawrence A. Cohen, CEO of Capital Senior Living, said in the press release. “His empowering leadership, vision and compassion were instrumental in the transformation of Capital Senior Living into one of the largest owners and operators of senior living communities in the country.”
Johannessen started as an executive vice president at the company in 1993, served as president since 1994 and was chief operating officer since 1999. He was also a member of the board of directors since 1999.
Before joining the company, Johannessen was a senior manager in the health care practice at Ernst & Young LLP, and served on the state of the industry and model assisted living regulations committees of the American Seniors Housing Association.
“I had the good fortune of working with Keith for more than 20 years and witnessed firsthand the enormous impact he had on mentoring and developing the finest team in our industry,” Cohen added. “We will continue his legacy of compassionately serving and caring for our senior residents. On behalf of our board of directors, executive management team and employees, my deepest condolences go out to Keith’s family.”
Johannessen had been on medical leave, and his duties have been assigned to various other executives within Capital Senior Living.
Written by Alana Stramowski
Companies featured in this article:
American Senior Housing Association, Capital Senior Living, Capital Senior Living Corp.
