Centene Names New CFO Chris Neczypor Ahead of 2027 Handover

Centene is preparing for a change in its financial leadership, with current Chief Financial Officer Drew Asher set to step down from the role in December 2026.

Chris Neczypor has been selected as Drew's successor. He will join Centene in September 2026 and work alongside Drew before becoming Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on 1 January 2027.

Drew will stay with the company until the end of 2027, when he plans to retire, helping to provide continuity during the leadership handover.

Reflecting on his tenure, Drew says: “I am incredibly proud of how Centene navigated through unprecedented change while remaining disciplined in execution and focused on long-term value.”

“The foundation we've built and the outstanding team we've assembled give me confidence in Centene's ability to transform healthcare and provide value for shareholders. I look forward to working closely with Sarah and Chris through 2027 to support Centene's continued progress.”

Chris brings broad experience

Chris joins Centene from Lincoln Financial, a major provider of life insurance, annuities, group benefits and retirement solutions. He spent more than eight years at the organisation.

During that time, he held a number of senior roles, including Chief Strategy Officer, before moving into the Chief Financial Officer position.

His earlier career included more than 10 years in investment and financial services, with experience at Goldman Sachs, PwC and Kingdon Capital.

Chris says of his appointment: “It's an honour to join a company with such an extraordinary mission. I look forward to serving as Centene's next Chief Financial Officer and working alongside Sarah and the leadership team to transform the health of communities across our country.”

“I'm excited to welcome Chris,” says Sarah London, CEO of Centene. “Chris brings a proven track record of strengthening financial performance, optimising operations and creating long-term shareholder value.

“Just as importantly, he is a collaborative, values-driven leader who understands how to build strong teams and drive meaningful impact. Our organisation will benefit from his expertise, energy and perspective as we deliver on Centene's next phase of transformation and growth.”

Drew helped steer Centene through pressure

Drew departs after helping Centene manage a difficult period, during which profitability in its Medicaid and Obamacare operations came under pressure.

Even so, Centene’s total revenue grew from US$126bn in 2021 to US$195bn in 2025 during his time as CFO.

Sarah highlights the scale of that achievement, saying: “I want to thank Drew for his exceptional contributions to Centene. His strategic perspective, financial discipline and unwavering focus on value creation set the stage for Centene's next chapter of growth and success.

“His partnership has been invaluable to me, and I am grateful that we will be able to continue to draw on Drew's expertise as we transition into the company's next chapter."

Healthcare companies reshape finance teams

Centene’s planned CFO succession follows several other financial leadership changes across the US healthcare sector.

GE Healthcare announced in July 2026 that its Chief Financial Officer, Jay Saccaro, would leave the position. Long-serving GE finance executive George Newcomb was appointed interim CFO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.

In June 2026, Pfizer also confirmed that its CFO Dave Denton would depart.