Karen Hanlon has been appointed president and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health, effective Jan. 1.
She will succeed David Holmberg, who has served as CEO since 2014, according to an Oct. 6 news release. Mr. Holmberg will transition to executive chairman and work with Ms. Hanlon and the board to support the leadership transition and Highmark Health’s long-term strategic priorities.
Ms. Hanlon, who is president, will become the first woman to serve as CEO in the organization’s history, the release said. She will oversee Highmark Health’s strategy, operations, growth and performance across its health plans, Allegheny Health Network and diversified businesses.
Ms. Hanlon joined Highmark in 1997 and was named CFO in 2014, COO in 2018 and president in 2025. During her nearly three decades with the organization, she helped oversee its growth from approximately $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 and BCBS affiliates in five states.
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