Centene's CFO Derrick Duke to leave for eHealth CEO role, Magellan Health CEO transition confirmed

Derrick Duke, current CEO of Magellan Health, will leave his position to become the new CEO of eHealth on September 18th. Duke has extensive experience in the healthcare sector, having held various roles at Magellan, HealthMarkets, and National Health Insurance. eHealth's current CEO, Fran Soistman, will retire and remain on the board as an executive advisor until year-end. Centene, eHealth's parent company, is a managed care organization with a market capitalization of $13.19 billion.

Austin, Texas - eHealth, Inc. (Nasdaq: EHTH), a leading private online health insurance marketplace, has announced the appointment of Derrick Duke as its next Chief Executive Officer. Duke will join eHealth on August 4, 2025, to begin the transition process before officially stepping into the CEO role and joining the Board of Directors on September 18, 2025 [1].

Duke currently serves as CEO of Magellan Health, a leading national healthcare management organization and subsidiary of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC). Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Magellan, including the dual roles of Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer. He has extensive experience in the healthcare sector, having held various executive positions at HealthMarkets and National Health Insurance [1].

Fran Soistman, eHealth's current CEO, will retire but will remain on the company's Board of Directors. Soistman will continue to serve as an executive advisor until December 31, 2025, to assist with the transition [1].

Beth Brooke, Chair of eHealth's Board of Directors, expressed confidence in Duke's leadership capabilities, citing his combination of financial acumen, operational expertise, and healthcare industry knowledge. "We are thrilled to welcome Derrick Duke as eHealth's next CEO," Brooke said. "At Magellan, Derrick's leadership during a key transitional period helped streamline operations, drive efficiency, and position the company for long-term growth" [1].

Duke commented, "I am honored to join eHealth at such a pivotal time in its journey. The company's proud legacy of helping millions of consumers navigate complex healthcare decisions is inspiring, and its modern, technology-driven approach to empowering consumers with the tools to make informed decisions resonates deeply with me" [1].

eHealth, which has operated for over 25 years, provides consumers access to health insurance plans from more than 180 insurers across the United States. The appointment of Duke comes as part of a planned succession process following Soistman’s previously announced retirement plans [1].

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ehealth-announces-ceo-succession-302515803.html
[2] https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/ehealth-appoints-derrick-duke-as-new-ceo-as-fran-soistman-retires-93CH-4157602