PIERRE — Avera Health announced this week that President and C-E-O Bob Sutton has decided to step down from that role citing the diagnosis of a serious medical condition requiring an intensive treatment regimen. Sutton has been with Avera for 10 years, half of that time as President and C-E-O. During Sutton’s time in leadership Avera has opened numerous buildings including a new hospital, clinic and long-term care facility in Gettysburg and the Helmsley Center at Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre, which brought radiation oncology to central South Dakota. Sutton’s extensive history with Avera includes time as the President and C-E-O of Avera St. Mary’s in Pierre. Outside of Avera, Sutton has served on the South Dakota Board of Regents and in leadership with the South Dakota Banker’s Association, South Dakota Petroleum Council and Petroleum Marketers along with the South Dakota Community Foundation and South Dakota Chamber. A search firm is being retained to find Sutton’s replacement. He will leave on September 30th.
