Acadia Healthcare (Nasdaq: ACHC), one of the largest and most influential players in the behavioral health industry, has announced a major leadership change that signals the next evolution in its operational strategy. Dr. Nasser Khan has been named the company’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer (COO), a move that reflects both the scale of the organization and its ambitions for future growth. This appointment marks a new chapter in Acadia Healthcare leadership and is a key part of the company’s long-term vision.
Khan, who currently serves as the operations group president of Acadia’s Comprehensive Treatment Center (CTC) business line, will officially step into the new role on June 30, 2024. According to a recent SEC filing, the addition of a COO position to the C-suite was designed to modernize the company’s executive structure and better align Acadia Healthcare leadership with that of similarly sized healthcare organizations.
Strengthening Operational Leadership
The responsibilities of the COO were previously handled by Executive Vice President of Operations, John Hollinsworth, who will retire on June 30. To ensure a smooth transition, Hollinsworth will continue to serve in an advisory role through the end of 2024. The creation of the COO role not only fills a leadership gap but also reflects a broader trend in Acadia Healthcare leadership toward clearly defined, specialized executive roles.
A company spokesperson noted that the new title is consistent with industry language and signals the company’s maturity in scale and structure. This change supports Acadia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership framework in anticipation of continued growth.
Dr. Nasser Khan: A Visionary Leader for the Future
Dr. Khan brings a unique combination of clinical knowledge and operational acumen to his new role. Before joining Acadia in 2022, Khan served as senior vice president of operations at Shields Health Solutions, a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA). He also held leadership roles at the health tech company Biograph, where he served as both head of program and chief medical officer.
Speaking with Behavioral Health Business, Khan laid out his top priorities: “Two of them are … people and people. It’s service to our patients and it’s service to our staff. The third priority is our quality and clinical outcomes. I do believe we already deliver the highest quality care in the industry and do so at scale. I think we will go from great to even greater in that regard.” That patient-and-people-first philosophy is set to become a core focus of Acadia Healthcare leadership moving forward.
A Strategic Focus on CTC Growth
Under Khan’s guidance, the CTC division has become a cornerstone of the company’s growth strategy. CTCs provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals battling opioid use disorder—an area of urgent national need. In 2024, Acadia plans to open 14 new CTCs and recently acquired three additional centers in North Carolina.
This aggressive expansion strategy is part of Acadia’s broader five-point plan for growth, which includes:
- Facility Expansion
- De Novo Growth
- Joint Venture Partnerships
- Acquisitions
- Expansion of the Care Continuum
As Khan steps into the COO role, Jacob Cooper will take over as president of the CTC division, continuing the division’s upward trajectory. This transition reflects a smart and seamless handoff within Acadia Healthcare leadership, positioning the company for stability and progress.
Innovation at the Heart of Expansion
One of the hallmarks of Khan’s leadership approach is innovation. “That being said, one thing that you will see more of is a real focus on innovation,” Khan said. “[We will] ask ourselves in what ways can we leverage and adapt technology, ways of thinking and ways of working to meet our primary objectives around being a great employer and a great caretaker for patients.”
This future-focused approach is likely to reshape Acadia Healthcare leadership as the organization embraces new technologies, updated workflows, and modern care delivery models. As behavioral healthcare becomes increasingly digital and personalized, Khan’s experience in health tech is expected to be a major asset.
Outpatient Services: A Growth Engine in the Making
Alongside its CTC growth, Acadia is placing new emphasis on expanding its outpatient offerings. These include partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which are currently modest revenue contributors but hold strong long-term potential.
CEO Christopher Hunter recently emphasized the opportunity within outpatient care, noting that this segment will become increasingly important to Acadia’s financial and clinical goals. Once again, Acadia Healthcare leadership is aligning business strategy with community need, aiming to meet patients where they are with flexible and accessible treatment options.
Positioned for Long-Term Success
Although Acadia experienced softer-than-anticipated patient volumes in Q1 of 2024, the company remains on track to meet its full-year projections. The appointment of Khan as COO—and the intentional restructuring of Acadia Healthcare leadership—highlights a renewed focus on performance, innovation, and service excellence.
This move is more than a title change; it’s a signal to investors, employees, and patients alike that Acadia is serious about scaling its impact responsibly and sustainably. With Khan leading operations, the organization is expected to sharpen its focus on both outcomes and operational efficiency.
Final Thoughts
As Acadia Healthcare continues to grow its national footprint and diversify its treatment offerings, strong, visionary leadership will be critical. Dr. Nasser Khan’s appointment as COO is a pivotal step in evolving Acadia Healthcare leadership for the future—one that prioritizes people, promotes innovation, and scales high-quality care.
With new energy at the top and a strategy that balances expansion with quality, Acadia Healthcare leadership is setting a new standard in behavioral health.
