A hospital executive with more than 16 years of experience with Intermountain Health has been named president of health care operations for the organization in Colorado and Montana.

Jim Sheets is scheduled to officially begin the new role Jan. 15. He’ll report to Nannette Berensen, chief operating officer.

“I am excited to be returning to Intermountain Health and to lead operations in Colorado and Montana,” Sheets said.“There is a rich history of service and commitment to our communities across Montana and Colorado which started more than 150 years ago. I am excited to align this history with the mission of Intermountain Health as we transform health care in the future.”

Sheets said he plans to visit each of the eight hospitals in Colorado and Montana during the first 90 days in his new role.

Sheets first joined Intermountain Health in 2007 and brings more than 16 years of Intermountain leadership experience to this role. He spent the last nine months as group president for 10 CommonSpirit Health hospitals in Colorado and Utah.

He holds master’s of health care administration and business administration degrees from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Utah. He’s worked as an adjunct professor at the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah and served on the board of directors of the Utah Hospital Association.

Headquartered in Utah, Intermountain Health operates 33 hospitals and 385 clinics and medical groups across the western United States.

A merger between Intermountain Health and SCL Health brought St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction into the combined organization.

Rob Allen, president and chief executive officer of Intermountain Health, welcomed Sheets. “I’ve worked closely with Jim in leader roles at Intermountain for many years and have seen first-hand the benefits of his exceptional leadership and his commitment to our mission, our caregivers and the communities we serve. His tenacity, expertise and ability to build key relationships will make a positive impact in Colorado and Montana and across Intermountain Health as a whole.”