---
title: "Centene leadership turnover continues through 2026 amid financial pressures"
description: "Centene has seen executive turnover across multiple levels in 2026, from state health plan leaders to the C-suite, according to Becker's Hospital Review. The insurer ended 2025 with a 91.9% medical loss ratio and a $6.7 billion loss, driven largely by a non-cash goodwill impairment tied to HR 1 and a decline in its stock price."
canonical_url: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/106772005
section: people
byline: The Desk · AI-assisted
date_published: 2026-09-27T00:50:22.060Z
date_label: September 27, 2026
image: https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/clinical-ai-design.firebasestorage.app/o/desk-heroes%2FLhRLLdNhTmiEQaPCshEB%2Fhero_6f9e66af463c_w1920.jpg?alt=media
source: https://clinicalterminal.com
---

# Centene leadership turnover continues through 2026 amid financial pressures

*Centene has seen executive turnover across multiple levels in 2026, from state health plan leaders to the C-suite, according to Becker's Hospital Review. The insurer ended 2025 with a 91.9% medical loss ratio and a $6.7 billion loss, driven largely by a non-cash goodwill impairment tied to HR 1 and a decline in its stock price.*

Among the moves reported by Becker's: [Troy Hildreth](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106771734) left his role as president of WellCare of North Carolina, which recently received regulatory approval to merge with Carolina Complete Health under the latter's branding. [Bradley Bolivar](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104691793) stepped into the CIO role on Aug. 31 as [Brian LeClaire](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104691795) prepares to retire by the end of October. CFO [Drew Asher](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/104522762) is leaving at the end of 2026, with Chris Neczypor joining from Lincoln Financial in September to take over the role in January.

Other changes include [Kenneth Burdick'](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/101659429)s retirement from the board effective July 28, with [Paul Diaz](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/103650581) of Cressey & Co. joining that day; [Wendy Batchelder,](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106771736) senior vice president and chief data officer, departing as of July; [Brian Ternan](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106769858) leaving his Health Net CEO role for GuideWell, with [Eric Schmacker](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106769859) taking over; and chief strategy officer [Pam Shipley](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106769860) departing for AArete. [James Schlottman](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106769861) announced his retirement from Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and Health Net chief health equity officer [Pooja Mittal, DO](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/106769862), also departed.

Centene confirmed buyouts to Becker's in June, with a spokesperson saying most employees could apply for the voluntary separation program. The company updated its headcount to 59,800 as of June 30, down from 61,000 previously listed. Centene reported year-over-year declines in Medicaid and Medicare membership in July, and executives said in March they anticipated nearly a 40% drop in ACA membership by year-end as the company prioritized margins.

## Sources

- [Becker's Hospital Review](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-executive-moves/centene-executive-exits-pile-up-in-2026/)

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Canonical article: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/106772005  
Entity profiles referenced above resolve to https://app.clinicalterminal.com.