David Entwistle was announced as the new chief executive officer for University Hospitals and Clinics last week.

“I am very excited to be at the University of Utah; it’s a great organization,” Entwistle said.

He will be leaving his current position as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in February.

U senior vice president for health sciences A. Lorris Betz was in charge of finding the right person to fill the position left empty when former CEO Richard A. Fullmer died earlier this year.

“We were most impressed by his knowledge and experience in hospital operations,” Betz said of Entwistle. “This is a big business, and it is important to have the best people in it.”

The U and the University of Wisconsin are similar institutions, and Betz said he believes that Entwistle will have no trouble adjusting to the U’s facilities.

“Great things are underway at the University of Utah, and I would like to build on that,” Entwistle said.

When he arrives, Entwistle plans to focus on improving patient care, patient and employee satisfaction and developing more programs at the U’s hospitals and clinics.

Gordon Crabtree temporarily served as interim CEO while a replacement was being found. In February, Crabtree plans to continue serving as the hospitals’ chief financial officer.

David Entwistle