Press Releases: National
June 23 , 2006
Diane Gage Lofgren Named Senior Vice President, Brand Strategy, Communications and Public Relations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
Diane Gage Lofgren
Oakland, Calif. – Diane Gage Lofgren has been named senior vice president, Brand Strategy, Communications and Public Relations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals . The announcement was made by KFHP/H Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, George C. Halvorson. Lofgren assumes the role June 26.
In this position, Lofgren will lead the critical work associated with the stewardship and oversight of the Kaiser Permanente brand with the company’s key stakeholders. Lofgren will also oversee the organization’s National Communications and External Relations functions, as well as key strategic initiatives.
Lofgren, an executive with manyyears in the health care industry, comes to Kaiser Permanente with a depth of strategic experience in corporate communications, marketing, media relations and change management.
"Lofgren’s distinguished background and her proven leadership skills make her the perfect fit for this critical role on Kaiser Permanente’s leadership team," Halvorson said. "We all look forward to benefiting from the experience and perspective she brings to the position."
Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Lofgren was senior vice president of Marketing and Communications at Sharp HealthCare, a $1.6 billion nonprofit integrated delivery system serving San Diego County . In this role, she was responsible for the strategic oversight of all marketing, advertising, internal and external corporate communications, media relations, Web site development, consumer information services, creative services, consumer research and The Sharp Experience, a performance-improvement initiative.
"I am delighted to be joining such a forward-thinking organization and feel honored to partner with this strong team to further enhance the Kaiser Permanente brand," says Lofgren. "Kaiser Permanente understands that the best brand strategy a health care organization can have is to provide the high-quality care and service to patients each and every day in an environment where employees and physicians thrive."
Before joining Sharp, Lofgren was the vice president of Customer and Market Strategy for Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) national office in Denver . CHI is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the United States , operating, at that time, 75 hospitals and long-term care facilities, as well as medical clinics and other ancillary services in 22 states. Prior to that role, she oversaw marketing and communications for CHI’s 17-hospital Western Region office in the Pacific Northwest .
Earlier, Lofgren worked for Sharp Health Care as vice president of Corporate Communications and also served at other San Diego area hospitals, including Paradise Valley , Mission Bay , and Children's Hospital & Health Center .
For 10 years, Lofgren owned The Gage Group, a full-service public relations and marketing agency. She has published seven books and written many national magazine articles discussing topics ranging from business and personal relationships to management and marketing.
Lofgren replaces Bernard Tyson, who was named senior vice president, Health Plan and Hospital Operations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., in February 2006.
Photo available upon request.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
