Independent Health gets its leadership succession plan in place

Effective Feb. 26, President and CEO Dr. Michael W. Cropp will remain CEO and Chief Financial Officer Jim Dunlop will be elevated to the role of president. The two executives will “work collaboratively to steward the company’s succession plans and guide Independent Health into its next phase of growth,” the Amherst-based health plan announced.

Cropp, 69, told The Buffalo News he has no specific retirement date in mind. Cropp will continue to guide the nonprofit’s overarching strategy and remains responsible for high-level decisions, but he’s also focused on “making sure that Jim is ready, and giving him the coaching and the exposure and the experience.”

“In helping to move him through that process, I’ll get to a certain point where I am very comfortable knowing that, ‘Hey, he’s ready,’” said Cropp, who has been president and CEO since 2004. “And at that point, I can sit down with the board and say, ‘Now, let’s talk about a date.’”

Cropp said Dunlop, 53, should be viewed as a “leading and prepared candidate” to become the next CEO, though he noted that Independent Health’s board will ultimately make that decision when the time comes.

Cropp described succession planning at Independent Health as “deliberate,” noting he’s had conversations with the board over the last few years to look at internal candidates with the right attributes and experience.

“Our succession plan will make…