Gerard van Grinsven

With more than 24 years of global experience in the luxury hospitality industry, Gerard van Grinsven was asked to bring his innovative approaches and expertise in service excellence to the world of healthcare. In 2006, he was named president and chief executive of 300-bed, $360 million Henry Ford West Bloomfield. Prior to joining Henry Ford, he served as vice president and area general manager for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Dearborn and as vice president and area general manager of The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Cleveland, St. Louis, and Philadelphia.

Gerard's vision for Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, which opened in March 2009, is for it to be embraced both as a community center for well-being and a hospital. The facility features state-of-the-art equipment, best clinical practices, a wellness center, a healthy restaurant, and other unique amenities including a pond and landscaped courtyards that contribute to a healing environment. The hospital broke ground on a greenhouse and education center in 2011 which teaches sustainable and organic farming techniques, promotes healthy eating habits, provides therapy to patients, and partners with area schools. This initiative also integrates directly into Henry’s inpatient room service.

Van Grinsven's approach focuses on a passion for service, a total commitment to creating an environment of excellence, and building successful relationships with the community, patients, and employees. He has opened 20 Ritz-Carlton properties worldwide and was a key member of the team responsible for the company winning the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1999. Moreover, he executed The Ritz-Carlton Re-Born project which led to The Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn becoming the #1 hotel in the company for improved guest and employee satisfaction scores. Additionally, Van Grinsven has served on the HFHS Western Wayne/Downriver Board of Trustees.

Van Grinsven holds a bachelor of arts degree in Hotel Management from The Hotel Management School, Maastricht, The Netherlands. He is a former board member of the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Michigan Kidney Foundation. In 2003, he was recognized as one of the "100 Emerging Business Leaders" by the Detroit Regional Chamber.