Grady Health System has announced the appointment of Christine Guillory as its new Chief Legal Officer, with the role set to take effect on January 12, 2026.
Guillory succeeds Tim Jefferson, who retired at the end of 2025 after more than 25 years with the organisation. Jefferson played a key role in shaping Grady’s legal operations during his tenure.
In announcing the appointment, Grady said Guillory brings more than two decades of experience advising public-facing organisations across healthcare, government, nonprofit and corporate sectors. Her background includes legal strategy, governance and risk management in highly regulated environments.
“Christine brings exceptional legal expertise, sound judgment, and a strong record of advising leadership in complex, highly regulated environments,” said John Haupert, President and CEO of Grady. “Her collaborative approach to governance, risk management, and decision-making will be invaluable as Grady continues to advance its mission while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and public trust. We are also deeply grateful to Tim Jefferson for his many years of service and leadership that helped shape and strengthen Grady’s legal foundation.”
Prior to joining Grady, Guillory served as Associate General Counsel at Ochsner Health, a non-profit health system operating across the Gulf South. In that role, she provided legal guidance for a network of 46 hospitals, 100 health centres and more than 40,000 employees.
Her responsibilities included advising executive leadership on regulatory compliance, contracting, innovation risk, crisis response and policy development during periods of significant state and federal legislative change. Guillory also played a central role in legal strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including work on crisis standards of care and end-of-life policies.
In addition, her work supported national efforts to address the opioid epidemic through clinically integrated, physician-focused solutions.
As Chief Legal Officer at Grady, Guillory will act as a senior advisor to the executive leadership team and the Board of Directors. Her remit will cover legal, governance and compliance functions, including enterprise risk management, statutory and regulatory compliance, complex contracts, litigation oversight and support for public-facing partnerships.
“I am honored to join Grady and to support an organization with such a vital public mission,” Guillory said. “I look forward to partnering with the Board of Directors, executive leadership, clinicians, and staff to provide thoughtful, accountable legal guidance that strengthens governance, upholds public trust, and helps ensure Grady continues to serve our patients and community with integrity and purpose.”
Guillory is a graduate of the USC Gould School of Law and Emory University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Italian Studies. She is recognised for her collaborative leadership style and experience navigating complex issues involving multiple stakeholders and public scrutiny.
