After nearly 20 years of working for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and holding many key roles, Helo Hancock will be going to work for a Coeur d'Alene cancer center.

"The decision to move on to a new challenge has been one of the hardest of my life, but I know it is the right decision for me and my family," Hancock wrote in a letter.

Beacon Cancer Care said Wednesday that Hancock has been named its new chief executive officer.

“Helo is the right leader for Beacon, and we are so pleased to have him paving the way for our future,” said Beacon Cancer Care founder Dr. David Bartels.

He said Hancock's leadership background and health care administration experience will help Beacon "chart the course for our rapid growth as we continue to develop strategic alliances and expand our services and locations."

Hancock's last day with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe will be March 4. He said he's honored to join Beacon and will start there April 1.

“What Dr. Bartels and the entire team at Beacon have done to establish the premier cancer center in the region in just a few short years is incredible," he said.

Hancock served with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe for the past 17 and a half years. He's worked as a legal intern, in-house attorney, lobbyist, legislative director and chief executive officer of Marimn Health.

Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allan said Hancock has been at the forefront of many of the Tribe's initiatives and efforts.

"His efforts improved the lives, livelihoods, and health of tribal members and has helped the Tribe and indeed our whole community in countless ways," Allan said in a prepared statement.

Matthew Stensgar, chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Health Authority, which oversees the operations of Marimn Health, said Marimn Health has a strong team and a lot of momentum thanks to Hancock's leadership.

"We have no doubt that Marimn Health will continue to provide the best health and wellness services to all members of our community," he said.

For the past five years, Hancock has led a staff of nearly 300 at multiple Marimn Health locations offering primary care, dental, optical, pharmacy, behavioral health, and other wellness and fitness services.

He led the organization through "unprecedented growth and expansion," with increases in new patients, new services, and employees.

"Under his leadership, Marimn Health opened the new Coeur Center in Worley and expanded its medical center in Plummer," according to a press release.

Marimn was also named a top three finalist for overall Best Places to Work Inland Northwest in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Prior to serving as CEO at Marimn Health, Hancock was an attorney and the legislative director for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for nearly 12 years, where he managed the political and legal affairs.

Hancock called working with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe "one of the greatest honors of my life and I will be forever thankful."

Hancock wrote that he is looking forward to his next step in his career.

"I have the unique opportunity to become the CEO of a growing cancer center in town and to help lead the kind of facility that is so needed by cancer patients in our region."

The Coeur d’Alene Tribal Health Authority is developing a plan to identify and select the next CEO and to ensure a smooth leadership transition.