---
title: "Highmark Health promotes Karen Hanlon to CEO Jan. 1"
description: "Hanlon, president since 2025, becomes the first woman to lead the Pittsburgh-based system, which employs more than 47,000 people."
canonical_url: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/106832413
section: people
byline: The Desk · AI-assisted
date_published: 2026-10-07T04:09:06.153Z
date_label: October 7, 2026
image: https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/clinical-ai-design.firebasestorage.app/o/desk-heroes%2F7hW9UnMYXzPk8TVPIoEu%2Fhero_e1e14f3bb5eb_w1920.jpg?alt=media
source: https://clinicalterminal.com
---

# Highmark Health names Karen Hanlon CEO, succeeding David Holmberg

*[Highmark Health](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/company/300588) has appointed [Karen Hanlon](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/100098409) as president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, according to an Oct. 6 news release reported by Becker's Hospital Review. She succeeds [David Holmberg](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/person/100159863), who has led the Pittsburgh-based organization as CEO since 2014 and will move into the executive chairman role.*

Hanlon, currently president, will become the first woman to serve as CEO in Highmark Health's history, the release said. She is set to oversee strategy, operations, growth and performance across the company's health plans, Allegheny Health Network and diversified businesses.

Hanlon joined Highmark in 1997 and was named CFO in 2014, COO in 2018 and president in 2025. According to the release, she helped oversee growth from roughly $17 billion in revenue in 2014 to nearly $35 billion projected at year end.

Highmark Health employs more than 47,000 people and is the parent company of [Allegheny Health Network](https://app.clinicalterminal.com/hospital/101792925). Holmberg will work with Hanlon and the board on the leadership transition and long-term strategic priorities.

## Sources

- [Becker's Hospital Review](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-executive-moves/highmark-health-ceo-to-become-executive-chairman-successor-named/)

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Canonical article: https://clinicalterminal.com/article/106832413  
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