Bernard A.K.S. Ho, former executive vice president of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, will take over as Damien Memorial High School's interim president and chief executive officer next week.

Ho, 65, will succeed Brother Greg O'Donnell, who will retire Saturday after 50 years in the active ministry of the Congregation of Christian Brothers.

Ho has agreed to serve in the top post for one year, the school's board of directors announced yesterday.

O'Donnell, 68, has served as president and CEO of Damien since 2000. He served as head of school in the capacity of principal from 1997 to 2000. O'Donnell is credited with solving the school's financial woes.

"I wanted to build on the legacy of Brother Greg O'Donnell and provide the strategic direction to bring Damien Memorial to the next level of excellence in education," Ho said in a news release issued yesterday.

Ho was executive vice president of HMSA, Hawai'i's largest health insurer, from 1994 to 2005. During that time, he also was president and chairman of the board of HMSA's subsidiary, Integrated Services Inc., which provides medical services and health risk assessment and education programs.

He was the company's senior vice president from 1984 to 1994 and its vice president for professional relations and utilization reviews from 1973 to 1984. In all, he spent 38 years with HMSA, according to the news release.

Ho was chairman of the Damien school board from 2002 to 2006. A 30-year Lions Club International member, he was governor of District 50 from 2001 to 2002.

"As a Damien parent and former corporate executive, I see the opportunity to provide our young men with an excellent choice of schools in Hawai'i," Ho said. "Finally, I believe in the mission of Blessed Edmund Rice, who founded the Christian Brothers, to educate youths in a Christian environment."

Ho's son, Chadwick Ho, graduated from in Damien in 1990 and is vice president for business and legal affairs for www.MySpace.com Inc.