BURLINGTON – John Ratliff, a former senior executive at Quintiles who left  in 2013 and became head of LabCorp’s Covance unit in 2016 to take on Quintiles (now Iqvia) as a clinical research organization, has left LabCorp after a recent shift in roles.

The departure comes as LabCorp shuffles its management team following the recent retirement from the CEO role by David King. King left that job as of Nov. 1, becoming executive chairman of the LabCorp board.

LabCorp (NYSE: LH) announced early Wednesday that Ratliff was leaving LabCorp “to pursue another opportunity.”

LabCorp photo

John Ratliff LabCorp photo)

Ratliff led the Covance group, which LabCorp acquired for some $6 billion in 2015. He was named CEO of LabCorp’s Diagnostics group on Oct. 3.

Paul Kirchgraber took over as CEO of Covance that same day. He had been leader of Covance’s clinical trial testing solutions.

Ratliff’s  departure comes five days after Adam Schechter took over as CEO. Schechter, a former executive at drug firm Merck, had been the lead independent director on the LabCorp board.

“We are grateful to John for his leadership of the Covance business, and we wish him well in his next endeavors,” Schechter said in a statement.

Named to lead the Diagnostics group are Brian Caveney as president and Mark Schroeder as president of Diagnostics lab operations and supply chain.

“The board and I are pleased that Brian and Mark, two highly respected and strong leaders, will combine their unique skill sets for the continued growth of our Diagnostics business,” Schechter said.

LabCorp CEO David King is retiring, to take executive chairman role

Caveney has been LabCorp’s chief medical officer in 2017.

Schroeder has worked at LabCorp since 2007.

“In his roles as chief medical officer and head of managed care, and with his background as a former practicing physician and managed care executive, Brian has a deep understanding of our customers at every level, from patients and physicians, to hospitals and health systems, to our managed care partners,” Schechter said.

“Mark’s expertise in global supply chain — which is integral to our lab operations — and his commitment to operational excellence are unparalleled. Brian and Mark will work closely together to enable us to become even more focused on our customers and the front line while we continue to enhance our remarkable lab capabilities and processes.”