King’s Daughters Medical Center President and CEO Fred Jackson has announced his retirement, effective immediately.

The news comes just shy of four months after KDMC, the region’s largest healthcare provider, laid off 140 employees. A two-year long investigation of KDMC by the United States Department of Justice for alleged over-stenting is ongoing.

Jackson was hired in July of 1996 and worked as president and CEO of several other hospitals before stepping into KDMC’s top spot and since his hiring has served as a member of many local boards. His total annual compensation since 2010 averaged more than $1.3 million, which included approximately $400,000 in retirement compensation.

Jackson’s replacement is Kristie Whitlatch,  25-year KDMC employee, who worked as vice president and chief operating officer since 2011.

Whitlatch began her career at KDMC in 1987 as a registered nurse and later served in several other roles such as neuro/pulmonary nurse manager, quality management director and heart and vascular center director.