Albany Med CEO Daniel T. Pickett III Terminated Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Albany Med Health System Board Terminates CEO Daniel T. Pickett III

The Albany Med Health System officially terminated its president and CEO, Daniel T. Pickett III, on Wednesday following a unanimous vote by the organization’s board of directors. The decision concludes a period of uncertainty for the region’s largest employer, which had placed Pickett on paid leave last month amid an ongoing legal dispute involving sexual assault allegations made by a former girlfriend.

Pickett, who had been selected to lead the health system in December, now departs the health system as it pivots toward a search for his permanent successor. According to a report by the Albany Times Union, while the allegations against Pickett were investigated by the New York City Police Department, he was never criminally charged. Currently, Pickett is pursuing a defamation lawsuit against his accuser.

Matthew Jones Leads Health System Operations as Acting CEO

In the wake of the board’s decision, Matthew Jones—who serves as the health system’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel—will continue to lead the organization in his capacity as acting CEO. The board’s move to remove Pickett was framed as a necessary step to maintain the integrity of the health system’s operations, which encompass the Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, and local hospitals in Saratoga, Hudson, and Glens Falls.

In a systemwide email obtained by the Albany Times Union, the board chair explained that the review was “focused on the best interest of employees, the community, and the system’s ability to execute its mission.” The board plans to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement, with the help of an executive search firm.

The Stakes for the Region’s Healthcare Infrastructure

As the largest employer in the region, the stability of the Albany Med Health System is a matter of direct economic and civic concern.

For now, the legal battle between Pickett and his accuser remains the primary context for his departure, despite the absence of criminal charges. As the search for a new CEO begins, the question remains how quickly the board can restore a sense of permanence to the top office and whether the interim leadership can maintain stability across the system’s diverse locations during the transition.

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