October 29, 2002
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kevin A. Myatt has been named chief human resource officer at Vanderbilt University effective Jan.1, 2003, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Chief Financial Officer Lauren J. Brisky announced today.
Myatt has been vice president for human resources since 1997 at The North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Inc., a multi-hospital academic health system that is affiliated with Wake Forest University. His selection comes after an extensive national search that considered a number of candidates from the higher education, health care and corporate worlds.
“Kevin Myatt has an extensive knowledge of the business of human resources, which coupled with his depth of experience and personal style make him a perfect fit for Vanderbilt” said Brisky, who also chaired the search committee. “The committee worked diligently and evaluated many candidates. It is rare in today’s recruiting environment to find someone who you simply know you must hire. We knew that about Kevin as soon as we met him. He is the right leader at the right time for Vanderbilt.”
“The decision to make a move at this stage of my career was an extremely difficult one but, after having the opportunity to spend time with members of the Vanderbilt team and understand the issues facing the University, I knew that this was both the right time and the right move,” said Myatt.
“My family and I are simply delighted to have the opportunity to join the Vanderbilt team. As I concentrate my energies toward contributing to the mission of the University, I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and administration as we collectively strive to make Vanderbilt the preferred University in the country.”
As chief human resource officer, Myatt will oversee all aspects of human resource services for Vanderbilt’s academic, staff and health care services. He will report directly to Brisky, and will also have a dotted-line reporting relationship to Chancellor Gordon Gee. This reporting structure was developed to recognize the importance of human resource as an essential component of Vanderbilt’s mission.
“Kevin is the strategic human resource executive that we need to continue toward our goal of excellence,” said Chancellor Gordon Gee. “I plan to formally charge a taskforce, the Human Resource Council, to be chaired by Kevin, which will be responsible for transforming the vision of Human Resources at Vanderbilt. This transformation will be key to achieving one of my personal goals, solidifying Vanderbilt’s position as the employer of choice in higher education.”
Before joining North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Myatt served as the senior vice president for human resources at First Data Corporation and as vice president for human resources at Mercy Healthcare in Phoenix, Ariz. In these positions he has been responsible for every aspect of human resource operations. He has also held HR positions at Pepsico, Dial, Inc., and Allied-Signal.
Myatt is a graduate of Virginia State University and earned an MBA from Arizona State University. He and his wife Gail are the parents of two daughters.
Contact: Elizabeth Latt, 615-322-NEWS, elizabeth.p.latt@vanderbilt.edu