Gentiva Health appoints 3 independent directors, restoring independent majority

Gentiva Health appoints 3 independent directors

ATLANTA — Home health services provider Gentiva Health Services Inc. said Thursday it named three independent directors to its board.

The appointments of Philip R. Lochner Jr., Sheldon M. Retchin and Robert S. Forman Jr. re-establishes an independent majority on the board and brings Gentiva in compliance with Nasdaq’s independent director requirements, the company said.

Gentiva’s board also approved a one-year extension of Chairman Ron Malone’s employment agreements through Dec. 31, 2010.

In a release, Gentiva said Lochner currently serves on the board of CLARCOR Inc., CMS Energy Corp. and Crane Co. Retchin is the CEO of Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. Forman was the founder of IMI Systems Inc., a computer consulting firm.

Gentiva shares rose 3 cents to $21.64 Thursday.