Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) said it has named Debra K. Osteen as chief executive officer with immediate effect. Osteen, who previously led the company and served on its board, replaces Chris Hunter, who is stepping down from both management and the board.
Osteen was Acadia’s CEO from December 2018 until March 2022 and continued as a director through 2024. Prior to joining Acadia, she spent 19 years at Universal Health Services, Inc., where she held the role of executive vice president and served as president of the group’s behavioral health division.
Board chairman Reeve Waud said Osteen will lead the company on an interim basis while directors undertake a search for a permanent chief executive. The board noted that ongoing macroeconomic pressures affecting healthcare providers influenced the timing of the leadership change.
Alongside the announcement, Acadia reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance. The company continues to expect revenue of $3.28 billion to $3.30 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $601 million to $611 million, and adjusted earnings per share in the range of $1.94 to $2.04. These targets were last updated in a press release dated December 2, 2025, and were restated at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 13, 2026.
As of September 30, 2025, Acadia operated 278 behavioral healthcare facilities with roughly 12,500 beds across 40 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. The group employs about 25,500 people and provides care to more than 82,000 patients each day, making it the largest pure-play behavioral healthcare provider in the United States.
The update was released via a company press statement.