Acadia Healthcare welcomes a new era of financial leadership with the appointment of Heather Dixon, Acadia Healthcare’s next chief financial officer, a news that has energized investors, employees and partners alike. Effective July 10, 2023, Dixon succeeds long-serving CFO David Duckworth and steps into a role central to Acadia’s ambitious expansion and diversification plans (Acadia press release: https://www.acadiahealthcare.com/about/news-media-events/acadia-appoints-new-chief-financial-officer/).
Dixon arrives with deep, cross-sector experience across payer, provider and pharmacy channels. Most recently serving as CFO of Everside Health, she oversaw strategy and finances for a network of 385 health centers in 34 states, bringing proven operational insight from facility-based care. Her prior senior roles include serving as senior vice president, global controller and chief accounting officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance and as vice president, controller and chief accounting officer at Aetna (coverage: https://bhbusiness.com/2023/06/01/acadia-names-walgreens-aetna-vet-heather-dixon-its-next-cfo/; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-dixon-4337152). This blend of financial discipline and health‑system savvy positions her well to support Acadia’s long-term objectives.
Under CEO Chris Hunter’s leadership, Acadia Healthcare is accelerating growth across five strategic pillars, aiming to broaden services and meet rising demand for behavioral health care. The company operates roughly 250 behavioral health facilities with about 11,100 beds across 39 states, and it plans significant capacity additions in 2023 through de novos, joint ventures and expansions. Dixon’s mandate will be to underpin these initiatives with rigorous financial planning, capital allocation and sustainable value creation for stakeholders.
Leadership transitions have marked Acadia’s recent trajectory, and Dixon’s arrival is a highlight in that evolution. Her appointment combines board confidence in her technical acumen with enthusiasm for her capacity to collaborate across clinical, operational and corporate functions. Former executives transitioning to advisory roles will help ensure continuity as she assumes responsibility for the finance organization and long‑term growth execution.
For observers tracking the behavioral health sector, Heather Dixon, Acadia Healthcare’s new CFO, represents both continuity and fresh perspective: continuity in a disciplined fiscal approach, and fresh perspective in translating diverse healthcare experience into scalable financial strategies. The tone at Acadia is upbeat and purposeful as the company advances its mission to deliver high‑quality behavioral health services while pursuing accelerated, sustainable growth.
Related: https://homehealthcarenews.com/2025/08/addus-homecare-appoints-heather-dixon-as-new-president-coo/