In what appears to be a strategic shift towards the healthcare industry, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison has divulged plans to transplant the world headquarters of the mammoth software company to Nashville, Tennessee. Ellison, speaking at the Oracle Health Summit, was caught slightly off guard as he let slip the company's forthcoming move during a chat with former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. "I shouldn't have said that," he admitted, nevertheless confirming the decision was concrete in videos shared by Oracle Health on LinkedIn, as reported by the New York Post.
Oracle's relocation comes amid a notable push into healthcare, exemplified by its $28 billion acquisition of Cerner, the Kansas City, Missouri-based electronic health records titan. It's "the center of the industry we’re most concerned about, which is the healthcare industry," Ellison conveyed, and Nashville, renowned as a healthcare locus with its thriving network of health systems, startups, and investment firms, seems a fitting hub. This move is not only a nod to Oracle's pronounced interest in healthcare but also to the allure of Nashville as a desirable locale for its workforce, according to information released by WKRN.
Norman Foster, the architect behind the design of Apple Park, has his creative sights set on Oracle's new Nashville campus, which Ellison said would be more park than corporate complex. The facilities will boast office buildings, a community clinic, varied dining establishments, hotels, and even a concert venue – with a stage floating on a lake, Ellison described in detail. Oracle plans to build a connection with the Nashville community that goes beyond business. "We want to be part of the community," he affirmed, as per CNBC.
The response to Oracle's announcement has been one of widespread endorsement. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell expressed his delight over social media, while Tennessee Governor Bill Lee welcomed the tech behemoth, viewing it as a harbinger of economic growth and job creation. Nashville boasts a long history as a healthcare epicenter, made illustrious by entities like HCA Healthcare, and Ellison believes that Oracle employees "love it here" and that the city represents "the center of our future," as he shared with attendees of the summit.
Oracle, which moved its headquarters to Austin, Texas back in 2020 after departing its original Silicon Valley home, has yet to respond to media requests for additional commentary. However, the bold statements made by Ellison at the summit have signaled a clear intention to embed Oracle deep into Nashville's bustling healthcare scene, and by extension, its community.
