![\"Mary](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mary-SuePatchett_400-e1627333538946.jpg\")
Mary Sue Patchett (file photo)<\/p>\nMary Sue Patchett (file photo)<\/p>\n
Mary Sue Patchett has been named Brookdale Senior Living\u2019s chief operating officer, a position in which she will continue to play a central role in the company\u2019s new regional operating structure<\/a>, the country\u2019s largest senior living company announced Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n Patchett will begin serving in the role Dec. 1. The 62-year-old also will have the title of executive vice president, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the first time in more than 10 years that the company has hired a COO, with the last offer being made in October 2015,to Labeed Diab<\/a>. He began serving in the role in November 2015<\/a> and stayed in the position<\/a> for about two years.<\/p>\n Since September, Patchett has been serving as interim executive vice president \u2013 community and field operations, reporting to CEO Nick Stengle. Reporting to her are six regional vice presidents as well as leaders in clinical, dementia care, service alignment, resident and family engagement and experience and dining.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been over 10 years since Brookdale formally appointed a COO, and Mary Sue is the right leader during this transformative time at Brookdale,\u201d Stengle said Tuesday in a statement<\/a>. \u201cWe are focused on improving operating performance and continue to build upon the momentum that began earlier this year. With Mary Sue\u2019s experience, competency and passion for our mission, she\u2019s the right person for this position. I\u2019m excited to partner alongside her each day and accomplish our goals as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n The CEO, who joined the company<\/a> in October, detailed Brookdale\u2019s move to a regional operations model<\/a> Nov. 7 on the company\u2019s third-quarter earnings call.<\/p>\n \u201cThe new structure is designed to focus the entire company, from our headquarters down to each of our communities, on delivering operational excellence,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cOne concern we sometimes hear is that Brookdale is a national company that does not have the ability to be as nimble and focused as smaller regional companies.\u201d<\/p>\n The organizational change, which Brookdale said Patchett helped design and implement, established six regions, each including approximately 100 senior living communities and headed by a regional vice president.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn effect, these six regional leaders act similarly to a general manager, having direct ownership of their specific business,\u201d Stengle said on the call. \u201cWe are, in practice, six operating companies of roughly 100 communities each that are tied together with the resources provided by a central support team in the form of our community support center,\u201d which is the company\u2019s Brentwood, TN, headquarters.<\/p>\n Patchett brings 40 years of senior living operations experience to the COO position.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m honored to step into this role,\u201d she said Tuesday in a statement. \u201cWe have an incredibly talented team in place, and together, I\u2019m confident we will continue enriching the lives of seniors and their families. I\u2019m grateful for the trust Nick and the company has placed in me as we continue our progress toward operational excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n