BJC Health System Selects Nick Barto as President, CEO

BJC Health System announced its its new president and CEO, Nick Barto. Photo credit: BJC Health System.

Posted October 1, 2025

St. Louis-based BJC Health System has appointed Nick Barto as its new president and chief executive officer.

Barto brings more than 30 years of health care and operations experience to his role. Barto will now lead BJC’s 24 hospital campuses, hundreds of care locations, including clinics and service organizations, and its 48,000 employees.

He also has experience within the health system, having joined BJC in 2018 as chief financial officer. He was named president of BJC Health System in 2023 and was named president of the East Region in 2024.

Barto succeeds Rich Liekweg, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

“Since joining BJC, I’ve seen the unwavering dedication of our caregivers across our hospitals, clinics, and behind the scenes each and every day,” Barto said. “I’m honored to lead BJC Health System as we continue working together to provide extraordinary care with patients at the center of all we do and strengthen our legacy as a mission-oriented academic health care leader for generations to come.”

Before joining BJC, Barto served as the senior vice president, corporate finance and investments, and chief financial officer of Catholic Health Initiatives. Before then, he was the senior vice president, financial planning and analysis at Novant Health.

Barto earned a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University.