Nashville-based HCA Holdings Inc. announced today an internal successor to Milton Johnson as chief financial officer.<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 />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 />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.