Alignment Healthcare Combines CEO and Chairman Roles, Names New President and COO

Alignment Healthcare announced leadership updates on May 12, 2026 that add the chairman’s role to founder and chief executive officer John Kao’s duties while promoting several executives as the company expands its Medicare Advantage business. John Kao, 64, who founded Alignment Healthcare in 2013 and has been its CEO since then, is taking on the additional role of chairman.

He led the company through its 2021 initial public offering.

“Alignment is making strong progress as we enter our next phase of growth,” Kao said in a statement. ” Joseph Konowiecki, 72, who previously served as board chairman of Alignment Healthcare, will serve as vice chairman of the board. He has also been named executive vice president of corporate affairs.

As EVP of Corporate Affairs, Joseph Konowiecki will oversee Human Resources, Legal and Communications. The company said Konowiecki will help advance its strategic positioning as Alignment grows. Forbes reported that the announcement comes after Alignment Healthcare turned profitable even as many Medicare Advantage insurers struggle with rising medical costs for older adults.

Mark Kent, 58, will be President of Alignment Healthcare’s Management Services Organization. Kent most recently served as chief executive of a multi-state primary care organization and previously held senior leadership roles at Humana’s Florida primary care operations. Shane Hochradel, 46, will join Alignment Healthcare as Chief Operations Officer in June.

Hochradel most recently worked at Elevance Health and previously worked at UnitedHealth Group and Highmark Health. He brings experience leading complex healthcare operations across Medicare, Medicaid and commercial businesses. Alignment Healthcare’s medical benefit ratio in Q1 2026 was 88%, lower than many rivals that have reported ratios of 90% or greater.

The company sells Medicare Advantage plans that contract with the federal government to provide traditional Medicare coverage plus extra benefits such as disease management, nurse help hotlines, vision, dental care and wellness programs. Alignment Healthcare is set to join the S&P SmallCap 600 before trading opens on Thursday.

It will replace Sun Country Airlines Holdings in the index, the S&P announced Monday.

Forbes reported that the company’s market capitalization has grown amid its Medicare business expansion. Joseph Konowiecki’s new responsibilities as vice chairman and executive vice president are intended to bring greater cohesion across key functions.

The appointments of Kent and Hochradel add depth in primary care management and complex operations at a time when the company is focused on containing medical expenses while expanding.