WellStar Health System announced that Candice Saunders has been named president and chief operating officer, and said she will take over as chief executive officer when current CEO Reynold Jennings’ contract expires on Dec. 31, 2015.

Saunders currently serves as chief operating officer. She has more than 30 years of health care experience and joined WellStar in 2007 as president of WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

WellStar said it is the largest not-for-profit health system in Georgia. There are about 1.4 million residents in its core five-county service area.