Many in the Southwest Florida health care community were surprised when Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci announced in mid-December that he would not renew his employment contract when it concludes at the end of September 2026.
Antonucci, who has served as CEO of Fort Myers-based Lee Health since 2017, has led the region’s largest health care system through major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Irma and Ian.
He also guided Lee Health through a successful governance transition in late 2024 from a public entity to a private nonprofit, positioning the system for future expansion into neighboring counties.
During his tenure, Antonucci oversaw significant facility growth, including expansions at Gulf Coast Medical Center in south Fort Myers and Cape Coral Hospital, the opening of Lee Health Coconut Point and the planning and groundbreaking for the new Lee Health Fort Myers campus.
Following the governance conversion, Lee Health made its first strategic expansion move in December 2025 with the acquisition of an existing primary care practice in North Naples, marking its initial step into Collier County.
With momentum continuing and multiple strategic projects underway, Antonucci addressed why he chose this moment to announce his plans to step down.
‘The timing is right’
In a phone interview shortly after the announcement, Antonucci said the decision had been under consideration for some time.
“I think the timing is right for both me and the organization,” he said. “From my personal perspective, this will be my ninth year on the job, and I’ve got family commitments, including three little grandchildren.
“I just turned 72 in October and, frankly, I want to spend more time with the family doing things that I haven’t been able to do for the last 40-plus years of either practicing (in obstetrics/gynecology) or in the health care leadership role.”
Antonucci said his confidence in Lee Health’s leadership team also factored into the decision.
“The thing I’m most proud of is the team that I built: getting the right people in the right positions and allowing them to really do their jobs and to stay out of their way and provide the backing they need,” he said.
Looking back on his tenure, Antonucci said the health system’s response to major crises defined his time as CEO.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano with Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci following the announcement of the creation of the Golisano Children’s Alliance.
Lee Health
He pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Lee Health worked to provide care and reliable information amid widespread uncertainty, as well as the system’s efforts before and after major hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Ian. Antonucci said those moments repeatedly reinforced his pride in the organization and the work of its employees, as one challenge after another highlighted the dedication and resilience of the team.
Asked about priorities during his remaining nine months, Antonucci said ensuring the new Fort Myers campus stays on schedule and within budget is critical. The campus is slated for completion in 2028.
“So far, we’ve been able to do that, and I just want to make sure that continues because it’s important that we get that across the finish line,” he said. “And there are things that we want to do in Cape Coral, things that we want to do in Lehigh Acres. Since the conversion, we’ve really taken the time to look at our strategic plan, look at the needs of the community, and then try to prioritize and fill those needs.”
Antonucci said the guidance he would offer a successor depends on whether the next CEO comes from inside or outside Lee Health.
For an external hire, he said understanding the organization’s culture would be essential, noting that Lee Health’s success is rooted not in its facilities or technology, but in a culture built over more than a century. An internal successor, he added, would already be familiar with that culture and should focus on carrying it forward while continuing the system’s existing strategic plan.
As for his own future, Antonucci said he has no plans to leave Southwest Florida and intends to remain “deeply engaged” in the community through health care advocacy and continued service on boards of trustees, including Florida Gulf Coast University.
“I’m sort of letting all that stuff come to me,” he said. “I really want to stay focused on the next nine months. I still have lots of work to do and want to make sure we stay focused on that.”
Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci, right, is pictured with Paul Hiltz, chief executive officer of Naples Comprehensive Health. Antonucci announced he will not renew his contract when it expires in September 2026, prompting a national search for his successor.
Gulfshore Life
Board planning for transition
In announcing Antonucci’s departure plan, the Lee Health board of directors said a national search process will begin early this year to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
David Klein, chair of the Lee Health board, said Antonucci’s leadership has been “steady, thoughtful and deeply mission driven.”
“He has led Lee Health through extraordinary times, always with a focus on the patients, families and employees who define our health system,” Klein said. “We are grateful for his service and the solid foundation he has built for the future.”