Name: Mike Waters

New title: Chief operating officer, Teladoc

Previous title: EVP and chief executive of ambulatory care network, Providence

As COO, Waters will take primary responsibility for trying to ensure Teladoc’s member services and relations, supply chain and provider network deliver an integrated, whole-person experience, something the telehealth giant is focusing on to get ahead in the competitive virtual care space.

The role has been vacant since former COO David Sides departed Teladoc in September to become CEO of ambulatory technology company NextGen Healthcare.

In a statement on Waters’ appointment, Teladoc CEO Jason Gorevic called the industry veteran the “right fit to help evolve the organization’s operating model, enabling us to further scale across business sectors and geographies.”

Waters has more than two decades of experience leading strategic operations and growth initiatives for healthcare companies. He joins Teladoc from a 15-year stint leading the strategy and execution of Providence’s ambulatory network, having joined the Catholic nonprofit in its merger with Swedish Medical Center roughly a decade ago.

Before that, Waters founded two health system consulting and recruiting companies, W Medical Group and Med Stat Incorporated.

The executive, who will report to Gorevic, began as COO Monday.