Longitude Health Taps Architect Ian Spier as CFO to Scale Collaborative Model

WASHINGTON – May 14, 2026 – Longitude Health, a groundbreaking collaborative founded by some of the nation's largest not-for-profit health systems, has named Ian Spier as its new Chief Financial Officer. The appointment signals a pivotal moment for the organization as it moves to scale its ambitious model of building shared "industry utilities" to solve healthcare's most persistent challenges.

Spier is not just an external hire; he is one of the original architects of the initiative, having represented founding member Novant Health in the creation, capitalization, and governance of Longitude Health. This unique insider perspective, combined with a deep background in both health system operations and investment banking, positions him to steer the financial strategy of a venture aiming to redefine how health systems innovate and compete.

An Insider to Execute the Vision

Longitude Health was founded on the premise that the most significant hurdles in healthcare—operating pressures, fragmented workflows, and misaligned incentives—are shared problems requiring shared solutions. To execute this vision, the organization sought a leader who intimately understands the complex interplay of finance, operations, and clinical care within a large health system.

In Spier, they found a candidate who has navigated these complexities from multiple angles. Most recently, as Senior Vice President at Novant Health, he was instrumental in establishing Novant Health Enterprises, a diversified growth platform that expanded the system's footprint in high-margin ambulatory services like surgery, imaging, and urgent care. This experience in translating strategy into tangible growth and financial performance is directly applicable to Longitude Health's mission.

"As Longitude Health enters our next phase of growth as an ecosystem of integrated industry 'utilities,' it's imperative we have leaders on the team who understand health systems from the inside," said Vishal Agrawal, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Longitude Health. "Ian understands that the most persistent challenges in healthcare are deeply interconnected — clinical, operational and financial — and that durable progress requires aligned incentives with a willingness to build for the long term."

Spier's role at Novant also gave him a front-row seat to the formation of Longitude Health itself. His involvement from the health system side provides him with an ingrained understanding of the members' goals and the practical challenges of implementing collaborative solutions, a crucial asset as the organization expands its portfolio.

Beyond Incremental Fixes: A New Model for Ailing Systems

The creation of Longitude Health in 2024 by founding members Baylor Scott & White Health, Memorial Hermann Health System, Novant Health, and Providence (since joined by Michigan Medicine) was a direct response to a healthcare market where incremental fixes have proven insufficient. These systems, which collectively represent more than $65 billion in net patient revenue, are betting that pooling their scale, capital, and expertise can create leverage that no single organization can achieve alone.

The organization's model goes far beyond traditional group purchasing organizations or typical joint ventures. It functions as a for-profit holding company, wholly owned by its not-for-profit members, designed to identify, fund, and launch new operating companies that act as shared "utilities." These utilities aim to centralize core functions, streamline operations, and introduce new capabilities across the member systems.

Longitude Health has already launched its first three initiatives, providing a concrete look at its strategy:
* Longitude Rx: A health system-owned specialty pharmacy platform designed to improve patient access and adherence for complex conditions while capturing value for the health systems. The platform is already operational and has secured its first external customer, demonstrating early market traction.
* Longitude PHM: A population health management company focused on optimizing care for Medicare Advantage and other value-based care populations, aiming to make care delivery more accessible and efficient.
* Longitude FX: A financial experience platform that uses automation and AI to unify fragmented workflows in areas like patient access and revenue cycle, with the goal of lowering costs and improving financial performance.

This approach allows member systems to co-own and co-architect solutions tailored to their needs, rather than relying solely on external vendors. It is a long-term play to build sustainable infrastructure and equity value that can be reinvested back into their core mission of serving patients and communities.

Financial Engineering for a Collective Mission

As the new CFO, Ian Spier is tasked with building the financial and strategic foundation to support this expanding ecosystem. His background is uniquely suited for the challenge. Before his tenure at Novant Health, Spier spent nearly 15 years in healthcare investment banking, where he advised leading not-for-profit health systems on transformational deals. His track record includes approximately $15 billion in M&A advisory and $8 billion in capital markets activity.

This experience in large-scale financing, joint ventures, and strategic transactions gives him the toolkit to manage the significant capital commitments of Longitude's members and guide future corporate development. The founding systems have pledged to invest tens of millions of dollars annually, and Spier's role will be to deploy that capital effectively to launch and scale new utilities.

"I have long believed that health systems can achieve far more together by pooling their scale, expertise and capital around the challenges that matter most," Spier stated. "Longitude Health was built on the idea that healthcare's biggest problems are shared problems, and that lasting change comes from solving them together. Having helped shape Longitude's formation from the health system side, I am honored to join this team and help build the financial and strategic foundation for solutions that improve performance, strengthen sustainability and ultimately better serve patients and communities."

His mandate is to ensure the collaborative not only develops impactful solutions but also operates on a sound financial footing that strengthens the long-term sustainability of its mission-driven members.

A Strategic Transition to Accelerate Growth

Spier succeeds Brett Moraski, who served as Longitude Health's CFO since its inception and also as its interim CEO. Moraski is credited with building the organization's financial and operational bedrock during its critical formation phase.

"Brett was instrumental in establishing our financial and operational platform during Longitude Health's earliest and most critical phase," Agrawal commented. "He structured and secured our initial capitalization and membership, established our investment and governance framework and positioned the organization for sustainable growth."

Moraski will remain with the organization as a senior advisor to ensure a seamless transition, a move that underscores the collaborative's focus on stability and sustained momentum. This leadership change comes at a time of significant progress for the two-year-old venture. The addition of Michigan Medicine as a member and the successful launch of its first commercial solutions indicate that the model is resonating within the industry.

With a seasoned financial strategist and organizational insider at the financial helm, Longitude Health is positioned to accelerate its growth. Spier's appointment is a clear statement of intent to move from a promising concept to a powerful engine for systemic change, built and owned by the very health systems it is designed to serve.