WittKieffer Retained by the American Hospital Association to Find New Leader

March 16, 2026 – Oak Brook, IL-based WittKieffer has been tapped by the American Hospital Association (AHA) to lead in its search for a new president and CEO. Andrew Chastain, Paul Bohne, and Keshia Harris are leading the assignment. The organization seeks a dynamic, transformative leader to serve as its next president and CEO. This is a career-defining opportunity to advance the health of our nation and guide the association through one of the most complex and consequential periods in healthcare.

The CEO will lead this preeminent organization, representing the advocacy priorities and needs of nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and clinician partners. The CEO will lead a team of 450 professionals delivering high-value programs and services to AHA members.

In a dynamic, challenging field, the CEO must be an exceptional communicator and influential bridge builder, shaping and translating policy issues and aligning members around clear strategic priorities based on a deep understanding of their collective interests. Member unity on key policy issues is critical to the AHA’s impact; the CEO must build trusting relationships across a broad spectrum of members and partners, effectively convening and coalescing stakeholders. The successful candidate must possess a track record of influential leadership and health care field credibility and relevance to accelerate their leadership impact.

The CEO will be a strategic leader who partners effectively with the AHA board of trustees, staff, and membership to advance the organization’s goals. Through diplomatic yet bold leadership, the CEO will unite and activate members and partners around actionable strategies and messages that will protect and reshape the health care field, ensuring accessible, affordable, high-quality care. The CEO will be passionate about advancing healthcare quality, safety and affordability and skilled in cultivating influential relationships with policy leaders.

This opportunity seeks a courageous, diplomatic and influential leader motivated to advance the interests of America’s hospitals and health systems and strengthen the impact of the AHA’s programs and services for its members.

The American Hospital Association is a non-profit trade association that represents hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations across the United States. Founded in 1898, the organization works to support its members through advocacy, policy development, education, and research related to healthcare delivery and hospital operations.

Experienced Search Firm

WittKieffer assists hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools, and physician groups; biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device companies; colleges and universities, and not-for-profit community service and cultural organizations with senior administrative recruiting assignments. With more than 100 search professionals nationwide, its consultants recruit CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CNOs, physician executives, and other leaders.

As president and chief executive officer of WittKieffer, Mr. Chastain is responsible for charting the firm’s strategic trajectory while ensuring excellence and exceptional service for the firm’s clients. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience to the firm and continues to play a key role in select, high-profile search assignments. His search assignments include identifying C-suite and executive leaders in healthcare, including children’s hospitals, integrated health systems, academic medical centers, research institutes, consulting firms, and other health related industries. Mr. Chastain has also conducted searches on behalf of colleges, universities, community associations, and cultural institutions.

Mr. Bohne, managing partner, has more than 25 years of experience working with integrated delivery systems and a variety of healthcare organizations on executive search assignments and leadership-related consultations. Since joining the firm in 1994, he has supported more than 150 CEO-level searches. Based in Boston, Mr. Bohne epitomizes the firm’s focus on quality and client service. Mr. Bohne is well known for his expertise in contemporary healthcare trends and the leadership competencies that are required of high performing organizations.

A consultant in the firm’s healthcare practice, Ms. Harris supports the identification of senior-level executives, including CEOs, COOs, CHROs, and CFOs, on behalf of integrated health systems, hospitals, physician groups, federally qualified health centers, and non-profit organizations including foundations and social service organizations. She is based in Atlanta.

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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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