The Wyoming Medical Center announced Friday morning that its president and chief executive officer would no longer be working at the hospital.

Bob Turner and the hospital's board of directors reached "a mutual decision" Thursday afternoon to end Turner's employment after just five months in Casper.

"These are never easy things to do, and it was not pleasant for either one of us," said Steve Chadderdon, chairman of the board. "But it was mutually respectful."

Vickie Diamond will serve as interim CEO, a position she has held before. Chadderdon said the hospital should announce a permanent replacement in about two weeks.

Turner declined to comment on his departure.

There wasn't a direct cause for the decision, Chadderdon said at a press conference. It was more of a question of "fit."

When asked to elaborate, Chadderdon said the decision was a result of evaluating the current and future needs of the hospital and that there was "a recognition over time" that Turner wasn't fitting with the hospital.

"We are disappointed we didn't pick up on the 'fit' issue in the process," Chadderdon said. "We don't regret the decision to hire him, we are just sorry it didn't work out."

Chadderdon declined to further discuss Turner's departure and his salary.

"That's a personnel issue," he said.

Turner started as CEO Sept. 11, 2007. He came to the Wyoming Medical Center from Appleton, Wis. where he was the chief operating officer for Affinity Health System, a company that owns three hospitals and other health care facilities.

Hospital officials said in August they courted Turner to Casper to help with the hospital's $85 million expansion and deal with the threat of a competing hospital.

Although the hospital's expansion is still on hold, Chadderdon said Turner's departure is unrelated. Instead, Chadderdon cited a volatile bond market as the reason for the expansion delay.

"My perspective and the board's perspective is that it could be some time before we go back to the market," Chadderdon said.

Turner's departure comes less than three weeks after Central Wyoming Neurosurgery filed a $10 million lawsuit against the Wyoming Medical Center.

The county commissioners and the Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, which oversees Natrona County's lease with the hospital, were notified Thursday afternoon about the decision, Chadderdon said.

Commission chairman Rob Hendry said this was the hospital board's decision and the commission has no control over these actions.

Hendry said he hoped losing an executive after such a short time span doesn't affect health care in the county.

"I know that it's kind of an official response, but that is the only thing we have control over," Hendry said. "We want the best care for the people of Natrona County."

Pat Thorson, chairwoman of the Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, declined to comment.

With Diamond as interim CEO, Chadderdon thought the hospital would continue to function at a high level.

Turner was the hospital's fifth top executive in 10 years. Mike Schrader, Phil Eaton, Jim Gardner and Pam Fulks have served as previous top administrators.

Turner was chosen as the CEO after a lengthy selection process. It lasted several months and included more than 80 applicants from around the country.

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.