It's a done deal — signed and delivered. Good Shepherd Health System has named Edward "Ed" D. Banos as president and chief executive officer.

In a phone interview from Pennsylvania, Banos said he signed a contract with Good Shepherd on Thursday.

Banos and his wife, Brenda Lanzel, hope to move to Longview before the end of June. No stranger to the Lone Star State, Banos has worked at a hospital in Houston, and he said he was excited to see another job opening in Texas.

Texas has a positive mentality and a take-charge attitude that he appreciates, the 43-year-old Pittsburgh, Pa. native said.

After researching Good Shepherd and Longview, Banos applied for the job. He came to Longview for two interviews. He said he met several employees and learned more about the hospital and its services.

The Good Shepherd Health System consists of three hospitals in East Texas with a combined 575 beds and several health clinics. The system has about 2,250 employees, according to hospital records.

Banos' career in hospital management began as a health records administrator with a rural Pennsylvania hospital with 40 beds. Banos has worked at several hospitals and outpatient facilities. He most recently was the chief operating officer of Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Banos said he does not have any immediate plans for the Good Shepherd Health System.

"I'm a leader that wants to learn from employees and the community," Banos said. "Each hospital I've worked at has had its own challenges."

One challenge faced by Good Shepherd, and other hospitals across the country, is the recruitment of specialists, Banos said. He said Longview's proximity to Dallas and to medical schools should help Good Shepherd attract specialists to the area.

"My responsibility ... is to ensure Good Shepherd is a strong provider of services to the community," Banos said.

He and his wife have been to Longview a couple of times, and he said the city impressed them and they were looking forward to their move.

"It really looked like a great town," he said.

Banos will begin his new position with the health system on July 1.

He succeeds Jerry Adair, who was president and chief executive officer of the Good Shepherd system for 21 years. He was on permanent medical leave from the hospital when he died in November.