Nashville-based HCA Holdings Inc. announced today an internal successor to Milton Johnson as chief financial officer.<br /><br />William Rutherford will become CFO and executive vice president of the company, effective Jan. 1, according to a news release. Johnson will become president and CEO at the end of the year, following Richard Bracken's retirement.<br /><br />Rutherford, 49, has been with HCA for over 24 years. He currently serves as chief operating officer of HCA's Physician Services Group, where he oversees physician employment, recruiting and practice management for over 3,000 providers.<br /><br />He joined the company in 1986 as a staff auditor and has since held various roles, including chief financial officer for the company's Eastern group of hospitals.<br /><br />"Bill is well-prepared to assume the role of CFO," Johnson said in the news release. "His history with the company and breadth of experience in the hospital, outpatient and behavioral health sectors have shown him to be a solid leader with a deep understanding of the health care industry, the financial markets, and, equally important, a knowledge of our patient-centric culture. As CFO, Bill will lead a deep and talented team of financial professionals."