KANSAS CITY, Mo.- Cerner Corporation (Nasdaq:CERN) announced today that Cliff Illig, company co-founder and vice chairman of the board of directors, has retired from Cerner to focus on outside interests.
Illig co-founded Cerner in 1979 and has served on the board since 1980. He has been vice chairman since March 1999, except for July 2017 through February 2018, when he was chairman of the board and interim CEO. Illig previously served as the company’s chief operating officer until October 1998, and as president of Cerner until March 1999.
"On behalf of the board of directors, as well as our more than 28,000 associates worldwide, I want to thank Cliff for his extraordinary contributions to Cerner," said Brent Shafer, Cerner chairman and CEO. "Cliff’s relentless focus on client experience, commitment to operational excellence and his attention to detail are indelibly instilled in Cerner’s culture, and his impact on the company will last for decades to come.”
Illig was instrumental in Cerner’s rise from a start-up to a leading global health IT company, serving as the driving force behind Cerner’s operations, client service methodologies, and sales and marketing strategies.
“I am extremely proud of what Cerner associates have accomplished in the past four decades, and am gratified in knowing that Cerner is well-positioned for continued success,” said Illig.
“It was one year ago that we announced Brent as our new chairman and CEO,” Illig continued. “Having had the opportunity to work alongside him during the transition, I have become even more confident in his leadership. It’s very clear to me that the work that Brent and Cerner’s strong leadership team have done this past year has the company on the right path. That, combined with my focus on a growing number of outside interests, led me to what I believe is the right decision at the right time — the decision to leave the enterprise that has meant a great deal to me for my entire career.”
Illig will continue managing an array of business and civic interests, including his ownership in the Sporting Kansas City professional soccer club and deep involvement in Major League Soccer; his active investment in a number of early-stage entrepreneurial enterprises; membership on the board of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research; and engagement in several significant non-profit organizations focused on regional economic, workforce and youth development.
“Along with his board and business leadership, Cliff has made a significant impact on the Greater Kansas City civic community,” said fellow board member and former YRC Worldwide CEO Bill Zollars. “He plans to continue working to ‘power up’ the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, and has pledged his continued engagement in community efforts that complement Cerner’s growth and that of the region. Cerner — and no doubt the Kansas City community — gratefully welcome his ongoing support.”
“It has been my privilege to be part of the growing, highly capable Cerner team that for nearly 40 years has dedicated its efforts to assisting clients in the digital transformation of health care, and in improving the health of populations here and in many countries around the globe,” said Illig.
About Cerner
Cerner’s health technologies connect people and information systems at more than 27,500 contracted provider facilities worldwide dedicated to creating smarter and better care for individuals and communities. Recognized globally for innovation, Cerner assists clinicians in making care decisions and assists organizations in managing the health of their populations. The company also offers an integrated clinical and financial systems to help manage day-to-day revenue functions, as well as a wide range of services to support clinical, financial and operational needs, focused on people. For more information, visitâ¯Cerner.com,â¯The Cerner Blog, The Cerner Podcastâ¯or connect onâ¯Facebook, Instagram, â¯LinkedInâ¯or Twitter. Nasdaq: CERN.â¯Smarter Care. Better Outcomes. Healthier You.
