Jeannine Grinnell has been named chief executive officer at Valley Medical Center in Renton, a UW Medicine hospital that serves communities south of Seattle, including Kent.

Grinnell is the first female CEO at Valley, joining Cynthia Hecker, CEO of University of Washington Medical Center, and Sommer Kleweno Walley, who was recently named CEO of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Grinnell has worked at Valley for 20 years, rising through finance positions to serve as chief financial officer and superintendent of Public Hospital District No. 1, the oldest and largest district in Washington. In January she was appointed interim CEO after Rich Roodman announced his retirement.

“Jeannine has served with distinction in leadership roles at Valley Medical Center,” said Lisa Brandenburg, president of UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics, and University of Washington vice president for medical affairs. “With her appointment as CEO, the residents of South King County can be confident that Valley will continue to provide outstanding primary and specialty care at its hospital and clinics.”

Donna Russell, chair of the hospital’s board of trustees, expressed her support, saying “Jeannine has thoroughly demonstrated her leadership strengths and resolve throughout the pandemic. She is a smart, accomplished leader who earns the respect and trust of everyone with whom she works.”

Grinnell said she is “humbled by the opportunity and so proud of this organization.”

“Like so many of our staff, I feel passionate about what we do and who we are: dedicated to taking care of our community like family,” she said. “I am honored to have served this community, and to have a role in which I can foster our incredibly special culture into the future.”

The annual salary for Grinnell has yet to be determined as contract negotiations continue, according to a Sept. 23 email from a Valley Medical Center spokesperson. The contract is expected to be finalized within the next two weeks.

Latest salary information

Roodman, who retired as CEO in January, received $8.2 million in 2020, according to the 2020 state Department of Health compensation of hospital employees report. He received $751,098 in base compensation, $7.4 million in bonus and incentive compensation, $34,153 in other reportable compensation, $28,500 in retirement and deferred compensation and $25,482 in nontaxable benefits.

Grinnell was paid a total of $794,279 in 2020. She received $515,415 in base compensation, $186,954 in bonus and incentive compensation, $5,843 in other compensation, $63,277 in retirement and deferred compensation and $22,791 in nontaxable benefits.

Three other Valley Medical Center employees also were paid more than $500,000 in 2020.

David Smith, chief legal counsel, received $645,334 in total compensation; Theresa Braungardt, chief nursing officer, received $591,968; and Wayne Manuel, senior vice president, strategic services, received $581,314.