Craig Earley Named CEO of NEA Baptist as Sam Lynd Moves to Memphis

JONESBORO, Ark. — Craig Earley has been named administrator and CEO of NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital as part of a series of leadership changes announced by Baptist Memorial Health Care.

Earley succeeds Sam Lynd, who has been appointed administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, the health care system’s flagship hospital.

Earley most recently served as chief operating officer of Baptist Memphis. He joined Baptist Memorial in 2013 through the health care system’s Frank Groner Administrative Fellowship Program and later held several leadership positions at NEA Baptist and Baptist Memphis.

Earley earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Lynd most recently served as CEO of NEA Baptist, overseeing the Jonesboro hospital and its clinics. He joined Baptist Memorial in 2011 through the same administrative fellowship program.

During his 15 years with the health care system, Lynd served as an assistant administrator at NEA Baptist and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County in Mississippi. He later served as CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton, system service line administrator for emergency services and chief operating officer of Baptist Memphis.

Baptist Memorial Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Anderson said the leadership changes reflect the organization’s focus on operational excellence, clinical quality and mission-driven leadership.

The Jonesboro leadership transition was part of a broader reshuffling involving six promotions and one retirement across the Baptist Memorial system.

Baptist Memorial operates 25 affiliated hospitals across eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee and northern and central Mississippi.