Last week we reported that C-suite appointments in the five weeks after Labor Day nearly doubled year-over-year (51 to 97). Looking closer, three other changes stand out.

Clinical leaders are moving up. Chief Medical and Clinical Officer hires jumped from 2 to 11. Physicians are also taking operating roles: Sergio Zanotti, MD became CEO at Sound Physicians, and Ashish Gupta, MD became COO at Hamilton Health Box. As more companies take on risk for outcomes, clinical credibility is becoming a leadership requirement, not just one seat on the team.

Product leadership is growing faster than tech leadership. Standalone CTO hires fell from 6 to 4. Product hires, including combined product-and-tech titles, rose from 3 to 8. New titles like Chief Product & AI Officer (Carlsmed) and CEO, AI & Product Innovation (Optum Health) show boards want one leader accountable for what gets built and whether it pays off.

Companies are hiring teams, not single seats. Twelve companies named two or more executives this fall, up from 7 last year. Strive Health, MedZed, Noto and Carlsmed each named three. Last year’s multi-hire companies were building brand and go-to-market teams. This year’s are building operating teams: operations, finance, clinical and product.

As more of the industry moves into risk-based contracts - from kidney care to primary care to pharmacy - companies are paid based on results. That puts clinical, financial and operating leaders at the center of the business, not on the edges.

P.S. This year, our annual compensation study will evaluate which roles or companies are getting an AI premium for base comp. To get the scoop, contribute to the confidential data set by participating here.

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• Finvi, a workflow and payments solutions provider, appoints Laura Granahan as Chief Executive Officer (Source)
• Kyle McLaughlin joins Charlie Health, a mental health services company, as President (Source)
• myPlace Health, an at-home all-inclusive senior care company, appoints Maria Lozzano as President and Finly Zachariah, MD as Chief Medical Officer (Source)
• Oak Street Health, a primary care company, appoints Maria Wilson, MD as Chief Medical Officer (Source)
• Jason Hein joins Briya, a health AI and clinical data platform, as Chief Commercial Officer (Source)
• Etugo Nwokah joins RazorMetrics, a pharmacy cost containment company, as Chief Product Officer (Source)
• Vaibhav Mehta joins Qure.ai, an AI company for radiology, as Chief Legal Officer (Source)

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• Covera Health, a healthcare quality analytics company, is hiring a SVP, Engineering
• K Health, a virtual primary care company, is hiring a VP of People (HR)
• Prognos Health, a health data analytics company, is hiring a VP, Business Development - Life Sciences
• Clarion Health, an AI front-office automation company, is hiring a Head of Customer Success
• Abacus Insights, a healthcare data interoperability company, is hiring a Head of Technical Product Management
• Cedar, a patient billing experience company, is hiring a Commercial Counsel

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