Amedisys founder to step down as CEO, stay on as chairman emeritus

Bill Borne, who in 1982 founded a small business in Baton Rouge that has since grown into Amedisys—one of the leading home health and hospice firms in the country, with more than 360,000 patients served annually—is stepping down as CEO, board chairman and director. While Borne will now serve as chairman emeritus of the company’s board of directors, the Amedisys board has named president and CFO Ronald LaBorde as interim CEO while a national search for a permanent CEO is conducted. “It’s never easy to see a founder leave, yet it’s not uncommon,” says board director David Pitts, who along with Donald Washburn, lead director, will now lead the board as non-executive board co-chairmen. “Bill had the vision, drive and compassion to build an incredible company that at its core is focused on helping chronically ill patients and their families during their greatest times of need. We thank Bill for his leadership and wish him the best.” Amedisys announced the moves this morning via a press release. Among many accolades, Borne was named Business Report‘s Entrepreneur of the Year in 1990, when Amedisys was still known as Analytical Medical Enterprises Inc. Forbes magazine named Borne its Entrepreneur of the Year in 2004, and in 2009 the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business named him to its Dean’s Advisory Board and inducted him into the college’s Hall of Distinction. —Staff report