Highmark Health Names Karen Hanlon First Female CEO
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Pittsburgh – October 07, 2026 -- Highmark Health's Board of Directors has appointed Karen Hanlon as chief executive officer and president, effective Jan. 1, 2027, making her the first female CEO in the organization's history. David Holmberg, who has led the Pittsburgh-based health system since 2014, will transition to executive chairman to oversee the leadership handover.
Hanlon inherits an enterprise that has doubled in size under the outgoing CEO
Highmark Health's revenue grew from approximately $17 billion in 2014 to a projected $35 billion by the end of 2026 during Holmberg's 12-year tenure. Hanlon, currently president, will take full responsibility for strategy, operations and growth across the organization's health plans, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and diversified businesses.