WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Novant Health has named Kelli Ferry executive vice president and chief legal officer, overseeing the organization’s legal, risk management, corporate audit and compliance operations.
Ferry has provided critical counsel on a broad range of complex legal matters, serving as Novant Health’s deputy chief legal officer since 2022, and as senior assistant general counsel from 2018 to 2022.
“Kelli has been a valued adviser at Novant Health for many years, leading our system through a number of milestones – helping grow access to care, launch strategic partnerships and navigate evolving regulations,” said Carl S. Armato, president and chief executive officer of Novant Health. “She is an integral partner for so many across our organization and is deeply committed to supporting remarkable outcomes for every patient.”
Since joining Novant Health in 2018, Ferry has provided thoughtful guidance in a variety of areas, driving alignment and success. A trusted counsel and savvy business strategist, Ferry has enabled Novant Health to serve new communities across the Carolinas and transform care delivery with new technology, all while preserving the interests of patients and the organization.
“I am honored to be part of a health system that is leading in this transformative era of healthcare while providing safe, high-quality care to our patients,” said Ferry, a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina. “It’s inspiring to work alongside teams that are so genuinely committed to building healthier generations across each of the communities we serve.”
Before joining Novant Health, Ferry spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, including serving as criminal chief for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. As a prosecutor, she conducted complex fraud investigations involving both individuals and national corporations and also established the district’s Health Care Fraud Task Force. In 2025 she received the Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Large Company award as part of the Charlotte Business Journal's Corporate Counsel Awards program in partnership with the Association of Corporate Counsel. Ferry currently serves as corporate secretary on the board of trustees for Novant Health, and as a board member for the North Carolina Healthcare Association, the Charlotte Ballet and Nourish Up, a network of emergency food pantries based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and English. After earning a law degree from the University of Virginia, Ferry clerked on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for the Honorable Robert E. Payne.
Ferry succeeds Frank Emory, who retired after serving as the system’s chief legal officer for more than six years.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of nearly 900 locations, including 19 hospitals, more than 750 physician clinics and urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and imaging and pharmacy services. This network supports a seamless and personalized healthcare experience for communities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Novant Health is nationally recognized for our unwavering commitment to safety and the highest quality care, and we serve as a catalyst for healthcare transformation through clinical trials, leading-edge research, innovative care delivery models and robust virtual care networks. The expertise and empathy of our more than 41,000 team members along with more than 8,600 independent and employed clinicians are at the heart of Our Cause as industry leaders caring for communities across the Carolinas. In 2024, Novant Health provided more than $1.6 billion in community benefit, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit NovantHealth.org. Follow Novant Health on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
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