Jim Matney

James L. “Jim” Matney, the chief executive officer of Smith-Northview Hospital in Valdosta, has been named Colquitt Regional Medical Center’s new president and chief executive officer to replace longtime CEO Jim Lowry, who is retiring Sept. 30.

The Colquitt County Hospital Authority voted in a called meeting Thursday to hire Matney as CEO after narrowing the field of candidates to two finalists two weeks earlier. Brooks Sheldon, chairman of the Colquitt County Hospital Authority, said he anticipates that Matney will begin around Sept. 1 and have a month to work with Lowry and become acquainted with Colquitt Regional.

“I’m excited about moving to Moultrie and joining the Colquitt Regional family,” Matney said. “I’m honored to be following a CEO like Jim Lowry who has built the hospital to be a strong and independent hospital.”

Matney has been CEO of Smith-Northview since February 2009, when he was transferred there by Ameris Health Systems, owner of Smith-Northview. Matney had previously served as CEO of Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital in Phenix City, Ala., another Ameris hospital. Ameris Health Systems recently entered an agreement to sell Smith-Northview to South Georgia Medical Center.

A native of Virginia, Matney received his bachelor’s degree from Berea College in Berea, Ky., and a master’s degree in health administration from Medical College of Virginia Commonwealth University. Matney is also a licensed certified public accountant.

He began his hospital career as a staff accountant at Buchanan General Hospital in Grundy, Va., and later served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer at several hospitals before taking his first CEO position at Valley View Medical Center in Bullhead City, Ariz., in 2006.

Matney and his wife, Jill, who is a pharmacist at Colquitt Regional, have three children, William, 14, Sarah, 13, and Henry, 11.