A Special Message Regarding Helene

New President & CEO Announced

Deerfield is pleased to announce that after a comprehensive national search, its Board of Directors has appointed Libby Bush as President & Chief Executive Officer effective August 2022. Bush succeeds Bob Wernet, who will be retiring this summer after leading Deerfield through tremendous growth and many successes over his 24+ years of service.

Roba Whiteley, Board Chair, said, “After a comprehensive search, the Board has identified Libby Bush as Deerfield’s next President & CEO. Libby brings extensive experience, strong leadership, and vision to build on the success Deerfield has achieved as a leading Life Plan community in North Carolina. Matt Sharpe, our new COO, has exceeded all expectations across his 18-year tenure with Deerfield and his contributions have been integral to bringing us to the place we stand today as a five-star, premier community. With Libby and Matt together, we’re in excellent hands.” 

Libby Bush has over 30 years of experience in senior living, and currently she is the CEO at Vinson Hall in McLean, Virginia, a 5-Star life plan community. She now serves as the LeadingAge Virginia Board Chair, is a LeadingAge National Leadership Academy Fellow and has three years of service as a LeadingAge Virginia Leadership Academy Coach. She also has extensive experience leading strategic planning processes both in her current organization and through prior service on the Strategic Planning, Nominating and Education Committee for LeadingAge VA and the Women in Leadership Task Force for LeadingAge National.

“Deerfield is an exceptional community with an outstanding history of expertise and growth. It is such an honor to join residents, staff, and all others as we bring forward such remarkable accomplishments and create the future course together.”

– Libby Bush

Bush holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree in Management of Aging Services and is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and currently lives in Arlington, Virginia. She and husband Jeff, a commercial pilot, are very excited about relocation to the beautiful Asheville area.