$300K severance agreement for former Macomb hospital president, CEO

MACOMB, Ill. (WGEM) - The McDonough District Hospital Board of Directors has finalized a severance package with former President and CEO Bill Murdock, marking the hospital's second major leadership payout in less than two years. According to the finalized agreement signed by both parties on Aug. 17 — a document obtained by Tri-States Public Radio via a Freedom of Information Request — Murdock will receive a total of $318,750. The payout, equivalent to 39 weeks of his base salary, will be distributed in bi-weekly installments of $16,346 over a 39-week period. Murdock's departure concludes a relatively short tenure at the helm of the Macomb-based hospital. He originally joined MDH as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2019. Murdock was elevated to interim CEO in December 2023, with the board officially removing the 'interim' tag from his title five months later. However, by May of this year, the board announced it was parting ways with Murdock, granting him a 60-day transition period to exit the role. Murdock initially stepped into leadership to replace former CEO Brian Dietz, who was suspended with pay in December 2023. Dietz's suspension followed staff complaints alleging a toxic work environment, reckless spending, and an unannounced 41% spike in employee health insurance premiums. Dietz later finalized his own separation agreement with MDH in February 2024, receiving a lump-sum payment of $325,000. In July, the hospital board hired an executive search firm to begin the process of finding a permanent successor. Former Chief Nursing Officer Wanda Foster is serving as interim CEO, a role she assumed in mid-July. Foster is being paid $33,000 per month. She has publicly stated that she is not interested in pursuing the permanent position. RELATED:MACOMB, Ill. (WGEM) - The McDonough District Hospital Board of Directors has finalized a severance package with former President and CEO Bill Murdock, marking the hospital's second major leadership payout in less than two years. According to the finalized agreement signed by both parties on Aug. 17 — a document obtained by Tri-States Public Radio via a Freedom of Information Request — Murdock will receive a total of $318,750. The payout, equivalent to 39 weeks of his base salary, will be distributed in bi-weekly installments of $16,346 over a 39-week period. Murdock's departure concludes a relatively short tenure at the helm of the Macomb-based hospital. He originally joined MDH as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in April 2019. Murdock was elevated to interim CEO in December 2023, with the board officially removing the 'interim' tag from his title five months later. However, by May of this year, the board announced it was parting ways with Murdock, granting him a 60-day transition period to exit the role. Murdock initially stepped into leadership to replace former CEO Brian Dietz, who was suspended with pay in December 2023. Dietz's suspension followed staff complaints alleging a toxic work environment, reckless spending, and an unannounced 41% spike in employee health insurance premiums. Dietz later finalized his own separation agreement with MDH in February 2024, receiving a lump-sum payment of $325,000. In July, the hospital board hired an executive search firm to begin the process of finding a permanent successor. Former Chief Nursing Officer Wanda Foster is serving as interim CEO, a role she assumed in mid-July. Foster is being paid $33,000 per month. She has publicly stated that she is not interested in pursuing the permanent position. RELATED: