Father and son relinquish posts at Nighthawk Radiology Holdings

Dr. Paul Berger and son Jon Berger have stepped down from their executive positions with the company they co-founded, Nighthawk Radiology Holdings Inc.

Paul Berger will remain with Nighthawk as chairman of the board of directors. With about 12 percent of Nighthawk shares, he is the company’s largest stockholder.

He will be replaced as chief executive officer by David Engert, who joined Nighthawk’s board in April. Engert had been a director, president and chief executive officer of Quality Care Solutions Inc., a provider of health care payment systems, until its acquisition in 2007.

Berger will work with Engert as a consultant during a period of transition. He will continue to receive his $600,000 salary for the next year.

Jon Berger was senior vice president of strategy and business development at Nighthawk. He also was a director. A company news release says he resigned to pursue other interests. His departure will keep Nighthawk in compliance with Nasdaq standards for independent directors.

Spokeswoman Andrea Clegg said the announcement culminates a succession plan in the making for some time.

Nighthawk, which has headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, provides 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week analysis of X-rays and other radiological services from sites in Switzerland and Australia, as well as the United States.

Earlier this month, the company reported third-quarter profits below those for the 2007 period, and lowered expectations for 2008 revenues.

Nighthawk stock closed Monday at $2.93 per share, a 52-week low, but recouped the day’s losses in after-hours trading, finishing at $3.04 per share.