Addus HomeCare Corporation has appointed health care executive Heather Dixon as its new president and chief operating officer, the company announced Thursday. Dixon, who is expected to assume the role in mid-September, brings deep financial and operational experience from across the health care sector and has served on Addus’ board as an independent director and audit committee member since 2023.
Addus’ chairman and chief executive described Dixon’s background in both operational and financial management as a key factor in the selection, and noted the board’s confidence in her ability to help guide the company through its next phase of growth. Current president and COO Bradley Bickham will transition to an advisory role reporting to the CEO and remain in that capacity until his planned retirement in March 2026.
Dixon’s appointment highlights her recent tenure as chief financial officer at Acadia Healthcare, where she joined the behavioral health provider in mid-2023. At Acadia she succeeded a long-serving finance chief and was brought in to support the company’s multi-pronged growth strategy, including expansion of facility capacity and diversification of services. Acadia Healthcare is one of the nation’s largest standalone behavioral health providers, operating hundreds of facilities and serving tens of thousands of patients daily, and Dixon’s time there added sector-specific financial leadership to her résumé.
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Prior to Acadia, Dixon held senior roles at Everside Health, where she served as chief financial officer and interim chief operating officer and oversaw hundreds of health centers across multiple states. Her earlier executive experience includes leadership positions at Walgreens Boots Alliance and Aetna, providing significant payer, provider and pharmacy exposure. She has also served on the boards of other health companies, further broadening her governance and strategic credentials.
Addus, based in Frisco, Texas, offers a portfolio of personal care, hospice and home health services. The company operates roughly 260 locations across 23 states and serves an estimated 62,000 patients. The hire of Dixon follows Addus’ recent acquisition of Pennsylvania-based Helping Hands Home Care Service for $21.2 million, a transaction announced two days before the leadership change and consistent with the company’s expansion efforts.
Industry observers note that Dixon’s combined operational and financial skill set aligns with the priorities of home- and community-based care providers navigating reimbursement pressures, workforce challenges and demand for integrated services. Her experience at Acadia Healthcare and other large health systems is expected to inform Addus’ strategic planning, facility operations and financial oversight as the company pursues organic growth and acquisition opportunities.
In assuming the president and COO role, Dixon is positioned to focus on service quality, operational efficiency and growth execution across Addus’ footprint. Company leadership framed the transition as part of a broader continuity plan that leverages existing board insights and executive experience to sustain performance while pursuing expansion.
The move underscores ongoing consolidation and leadership realignment within health services, with executives moving between behavioral health, primary care and home-based care segments as providers seek leaders who can span financial strategy and day-to-day operations. The appointment of Heather Dixon, Acadia Healthcare veteran, to a senior operating post at Addus represents a notable example of that trend.
Sources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-dixon-4337152
https://homehealthcarenews.com/2025/08/addus-homecare-appoints-heather-dixon-as-new-president-coo/
https://bhbusiness.com/2023/06/01/acadia-names-walgreens-aetna-vet-heather-dixon-its-next-cfo/