Lt. Gov. Lynne announces future plans

DENVER — Lt. Governor and Chief Operating Officer Donna Lynne announced that she is returning to health care, and in mid-January will take on a dual role as the chief executive officer of Columbia Doctors and as the chief operating officer of Columbia University Medical Center in New York.    

“The greatest gift of the last 14 years has been the many professional and personal relationships I have had” Lynne said. “I am so proud of our state leaders and our employees - from those I met as I traveled the state to those working next to my office at the Capitol. I can’t thank Gov. Hickenlooper enough for this opportunity to work with him and serve our state.”

“There is no one like Donna. She took on the new role of chief operating officer and was able to do so in dramatically swift fashion all while serving as a world-class lieutenant governor,” said Governor John Hickenlooper.  “Donna is one of my most trusted advisors. Colorado owes her enormous gratitude for providing us such a shining example of how government should serve its citizens.”

Lynne joined the Governor’s Office in early 2016 after 11 years as president of Kaiser Permanente Colorado and executive vice president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, with responsibility for Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and Colorado. In her dual role as the Lt. Governor and Chief Operating Officer, Lynne engages in all aspects of state leadership, including the development and execution of policy, legislation, operations, and the budget. Lt. Governor Lynne acts as the chair for multiple commissions and programs, such as the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, Colorado Space Coalition, the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, and the Governor’s Commission on Community Service. She also serves on the Governor’s Education Leadership Council. The Lt. Governor’s Office also oversees the Colorado State Innovation Model for health care and the Office of eHealth Innovation.

Lynne is recognized as one of the top women business leaders in Denver and one of the top 25 women in health care in the nation. She participated in more than 15 external boards and commissions during her time at Kaiser Permanente including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Denver Public Schools Foundation Board.

Lynne will remain with the Governor’s Office through the transition of Governor-elect Jared Polis and is actively working to support that transition.