Acadia Healthcare Names Former Humana Executive as New Chief Executive Officer
Acadia Healthcare has appointed Christopher Hunter as its chief executive officer, the Franklin-based behavioral health company announced (official press release: https://www.acadiahealthcare.com/about/news-media-events/new-ceo-announcement-christopher-hunter/). Hunter will assume the role on April 11, 2022 and will join Acadia’s board of directors, succeeding Debbie Osteen who led the company as CEO since 2018 and will remain on the board under a consulting arrangement to support the leadership transition
The board described the selection as the result of a comprehensive search for an executive capable of advancing Acadia’s strategic growth while maintaining a patient-first focus and strong clinical standards. Chairman Reeve B. Waud emphasized the board’s confidence in the incoming leader and in the continuity offered by the existing management team and Ms. Osteen’s continued involvement.
Chris Hunter brings more than two decades of industry experience spanning health plans, health technology and provider operations. Most recently he served as president of Humana’s Group, Military & Specialty segment, responsible for three business units that generated roughly 7 billion dollars in revenue and served approximately 20 million members across 45 states. During his tenure at Humana he also held the role of chief strategy officer, overseeing corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and partnership activity.
Hunter’s earlier career includes senior positions at TriZetto, where he led provider markets and contributed to significant expansion of the company’s provider network, and executive roles at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. His governance experience encompasses service on boards including AfterNext HealthTech, Availity, Youth Villages and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Honors Program.
Academically, Hunter graduated with highest honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the United States, operating a network of 238 behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 10,500 beds in 40 states and Puerto Rico as of December 31, 2021. The company employs more than 22,500 people and serves roughly 70,000 patients each day across inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers and outpatient clinics (company profile/financial overview: https://au.finance.yahoo.com/quote/ACHC/profile/). In recent months Acadia has pursued expansion through acquisitions, purchases of vacant facilities and joint venture partnerships in multiple states, reflecting an active growth agenda that the new CEO will be tasked with advancing.
In his first public remarks as CEO designate, Hunter expressed enthusiasm about joining a large provider addressing critical mental health and addiction needs and signaled intent to build on the company’s recent trajectory while supporting facility leaders and frontline staff. The leadership change occurs amid heightened demand for behavioral health services nationwide and at a time when investors and regulators alike are focused on quality, access and sustainable operating models in behavioral healthcare.
The appointment of Chris Hunter is positioned by Acadia’s board as a strategic step to align executive experience in payer and technology-enabled healthcare with the company’s provider footprint, with the stated objective of strengthening market reach and delivering long-term value to patients, employees and shareholders.
Additional reporting and profile links:
https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/health_care/acadia-healthcare-announces-new-ceo/article_5974f2d4-b1e8-11ec-b8de-2b6c0105ce53.html https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/potmsearch/detail/submission/6553807/Chris_Hunter