Aditya Vij becomes the second CEO to quit Fortis Healthcare in just over a year. Last year, in October, Vij’s predecessor, Group CEO Vishal Bali, had announced his departure to take off on an entrepreneurial venture.
Vij announced his intention to part ways with Fortis Healthcare on Thursday to take focus on his own family business. Vij was addressing a conference call after the company announced the results of the second quarter ended September 30.
Following the announcements — of Vij’s exit as well as a Rs 58.12 crore loss — the company’s shares on Bombay Stock Exchange tanked. The Fortis scrip closed down 4.39 per cent at Rs 116.40 a piece on Thursday.
Just two months earlier, in September, the company’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Sandeep Puri had also resigned, making Vij the third really important exit from the healthcare group.
A spokesperson from the company said a search for CEO has started. However, no clarifications were made about whether the next head of the company would come from within Fortis or a veteran from the industry would be considered for the post.
Vij is expected to exit the company by the end of the year. According to a written statement issued by Fortis, “Vij will be transitioning from Fortis by the end of the year, to pursue his family business and investments, as he sets a future professional agenda for himself, aspects he has been desirous of concentrating on for some time now.”
During the call, Vij also said that his decision was a result of “personal commitments”. In the absence of Vij, the Executive Vice-Chairman of Fortis, Shivinder Mohan Singh, would be taking charge of day-to-day operations.