NASHVILLE (AP) — Retired health care executive Herb Fritch is taking over as chairman of the Nashville Predators' board of directors.

Fritch replaces Tom Cigarran, who had been in that role since March 2010. Nashville Predators Holdings LLC, the team's ownership group, announced the move Thursday.

Cigarran said in a statement that "when I assumed the role of Chairman, the plan was always to have Herb be my successor when we were both ready."

Fritch was founder and CEO of HealthSpring and built the company into a $4.6 billion enterprise by the time Cigna acquired it in 2012. He was president of the senior segment at Cigna-HealthSpring until retiring in November 2016.

Fritch said in a statement he wants "to continue to build on the momentum that has been created under Tom's leadership."

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