David Lawrence Selected Chief of HMO Kaiser

David M. Lawrence has been named chief executive of Oakland-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.

The two organizations, their subsidiaries and the 12 independent Kaiser Permanente medical groups make up the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, the nation’s largest health maintenance organization.

Lawrence, 50, , is a medical doctor who has been with the Kaiser organization since 1981; he served as regional manager of Kaiser’s Northern California division--its largest--until a year ago, when he was named chief operating officer and vice chairman of Kaiser Foundation.

Lawrence succeeds James A. Vohs, who had been Kaiser Foundation’s chief executive since 1977. Vohs will remain as chairman.

The move by Kaiser is part of an orderly succession begun three years ago, when possible successors to Vohs--now 62 years old--were identified.

Last July, some of Vohs’ duties were split between Lawrence and Wayne A. Moon, who was then named president. On Thursday, Kaiser said Moon will assume the additional title of chief operating officer.

Kaiser is a nonprofit organization and has more than 6.5 million members in 16 states. Although membership growth in its Southern California region tailed off during the recession, Kaiser has continued to prosper, especially in the Northern California region. Industry experts believe that Kaiser is poised to take advantage of continuing social, political and economic pressures for reforms in the health-care system.