Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health has appointed Karen Hanlon as president, effective immediately.
CEO David Holmberg will remain as chief executive and board chairman, while Hanlon will continue in her role as chief operating officer, the company announced. Hanlon has held various leadership positions at Highmark, serving as chief financial officer starting in 2014 before becoming COO in 2018.
She originally joined Highmark in 1997.
Hanlon will maintain oversight of operations for Highmark, Allegheny Health Network, and enGen. She has also led Highmark’s Living Health strategy, which the company says will play an increasingly important role as it focuses on improving outcomes and reducing costs.
“Karen is an outstanding leader with a deep knowledge of both our organization and the healthcare industry,” Holmberg said in the announcement. “In her roles as chief financial officer and chief operating officer, she has provided strong and insightful oversight of our operations, along with a strategic vision that has been crucial to our growth and success.”
“As our industry faces ongoing challenges and we remain committed to delivering the best health experiences to those we serve, I look forward to the next chapter of Karen’s leadership at Highmark Health and to continuing our work together to achieve that goal,” Holmberg added.
During her time as CFO and COO, Highmark’s revenue has grown from $17 billion in 2014 to an estimated $33 billion in 2025. Hanlon has also led several key strategic integrations and partnerships within Living Health and across the company.
