Two CEOs means twice the decision-making power for American Addiction Centers.
In December 2023, David Hans, PsyD, and Ellen-Jo Boschert, were named co-CEOs of the Brentwood, Tenn.-based company, which operates eight inpatient substance-use treatment centers across multiple states, as well as eight outpatient facilities.
When the company's previous CEO stepped down, the pair decided to "take destiny into their own hands," Dr. Hans told Becker's.
The co-CEO model is rare — just a sliver of public companies have been led by co-CEOs, according to the Harvard Business Review. American Addiction Centers' board was supportive of the idea, Dr. Hans said, because the pair had accomplished a lot in their time with the company.
Before becoming co-CEOs, Dr. Hans was previously chief clinical officer of the company, and Ms. Boschert was chief operating officer.
Ms. Boschert described the duo as "very synergistic," and said the co-CEO model, while atypical, is cost effective.
"The other thing we have is improved adaptability," she said. "There's two of us, so twice the agility and decision making. We don't have to reflect for days. We can get on a call, make a decision and process in real time with our team."
The model isn't for everyone, Dr. Hans said, but he and Ms. Boschert are "philosophically very aligned in terms of how we think about patient care and the value that we place on employees."
There's "no ego involved" in a co-CEO model, Ms. Boschert said.
"It is really not about power or authority," she said. "It's about collaboration, supporting one another and making the company the best that we can for our employees and for the experience of our patients."
The company's top strategic growth initiative is to support its employees, followed closely by improving patient care, Dr. Hans and Ms. Boschert said.
The company grew through acquisitions, Dr. Hans said, leading its facilities to function separately rather than as one unit. Creating one culture has been a focus through Dr. Hans and Ms. Boschert's first year as co-CEOs.
"We had to really encourage, and sometimes insist on, communication," Dr. Hans said. "Over time, people are seeing the benefit of being part of the team. There's an exchange of ideas now that didn't always occur before. None of us have all the answers, but together, we have a lot of these answers."
The pair has also focused on improving patient safety and patient experience through their first year in the role.
Putting their staff first promotes patient safety, Ms. Boschert said.
"That's why it lines up the way it does, with people first and then patients. Because if we don't have the right people doing the right things, … then we're not going to be able to serve our patients in the way they deserve," she said.
The other top priority for the year has been "right-sizing" and focusing on the stability of the organization, Ms. Boschert said. American Addiction Centers filed for bankruptcy in June 2020. The company emerged from bankruptcy at the end of that year.
"[Our staff] has already been through bankruptcy. They know the signs of when you're tightening the belt, and we want to make sure that we have a company that is sustainable for the future," Ms. Boschert said.
For 2025, the pair is pivoting toward funding expansions.
"Any cost-cutting measures are challenging for an organization," Dr. Hans said. "When you start to see your company growing and expanding, that's exciting."