Linda Koester has been named vice president of IT operations for Kaleida Health.
In this role, Koester will be responsible for the organization of strategic planning and governance, program management, process improvement, vendor management, and financial oversight of IT operations across Kaleida Health and its affiliates. This role will focus on optimizing the performance and reliability of our IT organization to ensure service delivery is aligned with the organization's mission and goals. This role will work closely with the chief information officer (CIO) and the organization's leadership teams to ensure the effective use of technology to improve IT operational efficiency and support the organization's strategic goals.
Koester has been with Kaleida Health for the past 30 years, most recently serving as IT service management officer. She brings extensive experience and has served in several key IT and Finance leadership roles during this time, including as interim CIO in 2016 and 2023.
“Having previously demonstrated her dedication as the interim chief information officer, Linda has proven herself as a steadfast leader within Kaleida Health and Information Technology. Her wealth of institutional knowledge, extensive experience, and unwavering commitment make her a cornerstone of our team," said Courtney Lewis Starnes, senior vice president and chief information officer for Kaleida Health. "As she steps into this new role focusing on operational excellence in IT, I am confident that Linda will continue to elevate our IT operations, bringing forth innovative solutions and reinforcing her position as a key member of the IT leadership team.”
Koester received a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University at Buffalo and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Canisius University.