Health care veteran to take helm at Phoenix Children’s as Meyer retires after 23 years

Phoenix Children’s has named a pediatric health care veteran as the hospital's new president and CEO, taking over later this year from longtime leader Robert Meyer.

BY JIM POULIN/PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL

Jul 11, 2025, 5:43 PM

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Phoenix Children’s has named a pediatric health care veteran as the hospital’s new president and CEO, taking over later this year from longtime leader Robert Meyer.

The hospital’s board of directors said July 8 that it chose John Nickens IV for the post. Nickens is currently the corporate president of hospitals and CEO of University Medical Center for LCMC Health, a large regional health system based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Meyer, who has led Phoenix Children’s for more than 23 years, announced his retirement in February but didn’t set a departure date at the time. He has been working with the board of directors to oversee the hiring of his successor through a national search process.

Phoenix Children’s said Nickens will work with Meyer during a September transition period, and he will officially step into his new role on or before Oct. 1.

This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story.