NorthBay announces new vice president and chief financial officer

Michele Bouit has been tapped as NorthBay Healthcare’s new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, officials announced Thursday.

Bouit spent 17 years with three California health systems: Adventist Health, St. Joseph Health and, most recently, Dignity Health.

“Michele is a dynamic and relationship- oriented leader with a proven track record of developing successful short- and longrange growth strategies, improving financial performance and creating a culture of accountability,” said NorthBay President and CEO B. Konard Jones in a press statement.

Bouit said she liked the idea of NorthBay’s familyoriented culture, rich with many long-term employees.

“I sensed the camaraderie in the team, fulfilling the mission and values, as the organization focuses on providing care for everyone in the community. That’s appealing,” she said in the statement.

As vice president, finance and chief financial officer at Dignity Health’s Bakersfield-area hospitals, Bouit was responsible for overall financial performance through planning, organizing and coordinating all health care delivery systems.

At NorthBay, her primary focus will be to place the organization, based on its values and strategic plan, in the best possible position so it can continue to be independent.

“I want to make sure we’re doing everything possible from the financial perspective to be in a solid position to deliver on our goals,” she said.

Bouit grew up in West Africa and moved to California when she was 14. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College in Angwin, a master’s degree in international relations at Webster University in Geneva, Switzerland, and an MBA from Liberty University in Lynchberg, West Virginia.