Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTIV) announced Tuesday that David Causby will assume the role of president and Chief Operating Officer. Causby serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and will assume the responsibilities of president consistent with his operating responsibilities.

Gentiva Chief Executive Officer Tony Strange said, “David has done a great job in leading the day-to-day operations of our business and his commitment and leadership make him the ideal individual to fulfill the important responsibilities of president, in addition to his current role as COO.”

Causby became EVP, Chief Operating Officer in October 2013. He was previously president of the Home Health Division since 2011. He joined Gentiva in 2003 and most recently served as senior vice president of operations for the Home Health Division. He previously held various other positions at Gentiva, including vice president of operations for the Home Health Division, vice president of operations for the Western Region, and vice president of operations for the Carolinas Region.

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:KND) recently approached Gentiva to discuss a $1.6 billion acquisition. Under the proposal, Kindred would acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Gentiva for a combination of $7 per share in cause and $7 of Kindred common stock. 

Gentiva executives say they are not on board with the proposal.

In a letter dated May 13, Gentiva executives—including Strange, Executive Chairman Rodney Windley and Lead Director Victor Ganzi—returned correspondence to the Kindred CEO’s proposal via letter, saying the company was not interested in pursuing the acquisition Kindred is proposing.

Written by Cassandra Dowell