CEO of radiology provider Akumin departs abruptly after 1 year on job

The CEO of radiology and radiation oncology provider Akumin Inc. is stepping down from the role after one year on the job. 

Krishna Kumar, MBA, the former chief executive of Philips’ businesses in India, has vacated Akumin’s top leadership post effective immediately, company officials said Monday. He’ll be succeeded by Henry Howe, MBA, who previously served as interim CEO and chief financial officer of multispecialty radiology group Envision Healthcare. 

Both organizations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2023, saddled with heavy debt loads from acquisitions, and emerged from the process months later. 

"The board is proud of Akumin's accomplishments over the past year and is excited about the future,” Bill Theofilou, Akumin chairman, said in a statement March 31. “Now is the right time for new leadership to help advance the company to the next level. We look forward to benefiting from Henry's expertise and experience as we position the company for long-term success by focusing on quality patient care and operational excellence for our partners and our people.”

Kumar spent 13 years with Philips before joining Akumin as chief operating officer in June 2023. He later ascended to CEO, replacing longtime president and chief executive Riadh Zine, who stepped down in February 2024 after Akumin completed the bankruptcy process. Kumar spoke with Radiology Business at RSNA 2024 in December, discussing the company’s second-chance future and why he was optimistic three months ago. 

Akumin did not give a reason for the sudden change, and Kumar still listed his CEO title on LinkedIn as of late Monday. Akumin on Monday also announced that Chief Financial Officer Juan Perez will step down from his role in 2025, with the organization now searching for a successor. He joined Akumin about one year ago following its exit from bankruptcy. 

“Krishna and Juan’s stewardship of the company over the last year has been essential to establishing the strong foundation we now intend to build on,” R. Jeffrey White, MBA, Akumin’s director of corporate development and investor relations, told Radiology Business by email Monday. “These leadership changes are being made to help drive Akumin to the next level.”

Howe first joined Nashville, Tennessee-based Envision Healthcare as executive VP of strategy in April 2020. He later served as interim CEO for multiple months after former CEO Jim Rechtin, MBA, announced in October 2023 he was leaving to take the top post at Humana. Howe later became Envision’s CFO but was forced out of the organization late last year and has served as an independent consultant since January.

Prior to Envision, Howe spent six years with consulting firm Bain & Company (including three as a manager) and nearly 10 years with asset-management firm Bridgewater Associates (seven as a senior manager). 

“Akumin has a strong foundation in place and has made incredible strides in recent years, and I am confident that momentum will continue,” Howe said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the talented team at Akumin to deliver top quality services to patients and their healthcare providers.”

White said Howe brings “deep operational experience” to Akumin, after leading initiatives focused on strategic planning and operational efficiency at Bridgewater and Bain. Howe will focus on “delivering top quality services to patients and their healthcare providers” at Akumin and “driving forward existing and new initiatives that will help us best do that,” White said by email. 

Founded in 2014 and based in Plantation, Florida, Akumin bills itself as the country’s “leader in advanced imaging and radiation oncology.” It boasts partnerships with over 1,000 physician groups and other healthcare organizations across the U.S., including 23 of the 30 top hospital systems. The organization acquired Alliance Healthcare Services for $820 million in 2021, adding radiation oncology services in the process. But the deal also helped force Akumin into bankruptcy in 2023, seeking to wipe out $470 million in debt, with the former publicly traded company now owned by lender Stonepeak through a take-private transaction.