The Cerner Corporation announced Sunday that CEO and co-founder Neal Patterson has died. He was 67.
In a statement, Cerner said Patterson died from “unexpected complications that arose after a recent recurrence of a previously disclosed cancer.”
Cerner vice chairman and co-founder Cliff Illig will take over as interim CEO.
“This is a profound loss. Neal and I have been partners and collaborators for nearly 40 years, and friends for longer than that,” Illig said.
The company, headquartered in North Kansas City, employs 25,000 people worldwide.
Patterson along with Illig and three other people co-owned the Sporting Kansas City soccer team.
Maria Carter is the news director at KCUR 89.3