American Healthcare REIT (NYSE: AHR) names Jeff Hanson CEO and elevates key leaders
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
American Healthcare REIT, Inc. announced CEO and leadership changes. Danny Prosky retired as Chief Executive Officer and President effective July 21, 2026, will remain on the board, and receives severance benefits under the existing Severance and Change in Control Plan, a $35,000 lump-sum payment, and accelerated vesting of a 2024 restricted stock award pursuant to a release of claims.
The board appointed Jeff Hanson, previously Interim CEO and Chairman, as permanent CEO with a $965,000 base salary, target annual bonus equal to 160% of base salary, and time-based and performance-based RSU grants each with a grant date fair value of $2,072,534, subject to multi‑year vesting and performance conditions. COO Gabe Willhite was promoted to President and COO with a $100,000 cash compensation increase, a higher bonus target of 125% of annualized base compensation, and time- and performance-based RSUs each valued at $347,840. Director Scott Estes was named Lead Independent Director with an additional $40,000 annual cash retainer, and a press release describing these changes was furnished as an exhibit.
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8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
performance-based RSUs financial
cliff-vesting financial
Lead Independent Director financial
Severance and Change in Control Plan financial
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
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FAQ
What leadership changes did American Healthcare REIT (AHR) announce?
What is Jeff Hanson’s compensation package as CEO of AHR?
What retirement benefits will Danny Prosky receive from AHR?
How is Gabe Willhite’s compensation changing with his promotion at AHR?
What additional compensation will Scott Estes receive as Lead Independent Director at AHR?
Did American Healthcare REIT (AHR) issue a press release about these leadership changes?
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officer; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Chief Executive Officer Transition
On July 20, 2026, Danny Prosky notified American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) of his decision to retire as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, effective as of July 21, 2026. Mr. Prosky will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), and will commence participation in the Company’s non-employee director compensation program following such retirement.
In connection with Mr. Prosky’s retirement, he will be entitled to receive benefits in accordance with Section 3.3 of the American Healthcare Opps Holdings, LLC Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan (the “Severance Plan”), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 25, 2022.
In addition, the Company, American Healthcare Opps Holdings, LLC and Mr. Prosky entered into a release of claims agreement, dated July 21, 2026, in favor of the Company and its affiliates (the “Release Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Prosky will be entitled to receive (i) in acknowledgment of the expenses that Mr. Prosky is expected to incur with respect to continuation coverage under the Company’s medical plans, a lump sum payment of $35,000, and (ii) accelerated vesting of the unvested portion of his Restricted Stock Award Agreement, granted as of February 9, 2024, and which was scheduled to vest on February 9, 2028.
The material terms of the Release Agreement are qualified in their entirety by the Release Agreement attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
On July 21, 2026, the Board appointed Jeffrey Hanson, who has been serving as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President since February 3, 2026, to succeed Mr. Prosky as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective July 21, 2026. He will also continue to serve as Chairman of the Board. Biographical information for Mr. Hanson may be found in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 9, 2026.
In connection with Mr. Hanson’s promotion, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), the Board approved the following compensation terms for Mr. Hanson: (i) an annual base salary of $965,000; (ii) a target annual bonus opportunity equal to 160% of Mr. Hanson’s annualized base salary; (iii) a grant of time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with a grant date fair value of $2,072,534, which are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments on the first three anniversaries of July 21, 2026; (iv) a grant of performance-based RSUs with a grant date fair value of $2,072,534, subject to cliff-vesting on December 31, 2028 based upon the satisfaction of applicable performance conditions consistent with the corporate performance goals approved for the Company’s named executive officers for the performance period beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2028; and (v) eligibility for severance benefits in the event Mr. Hanson’s employment is terminated in connection with a change in control of the Company under Section 3.2 of the Severance Plan. Vesting of the promotion equity grants is subject to Mr. Hanson remaining as an executive officer or director of the Board through the applicable vesting dates. In addition, in connection with Mr. Hanson’s promotion, the Compensation Committee clarified that Mr. Hanson’s continued service as the Company’s permanent Chief Executive Officer will constitute continued service for purposes of determining the vesting of Mr. Hanson’s equity awards that he received on March 26, 2026 in connection with his appointment to the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Promotion of Chief Operating Officer
On July 21, 2026, the Board appointed the Company’s current Chief Operating Officer, Gabe Willhite, to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer, effective July 21, 2026. Biographical information for Mr. Willhite may be found in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 9, 2026. In connection with Mr. Willhite’s promotion, he will be entitled to receive: (i) an increase in cash compensation of $100,000; (ii) an increase in target cash bonus to 125% of annualized base compensation; (iii) a grant of time-based RSUs with a grant date fair value of $347,840, which are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments on the first three anniversaries of March 10, 2026; and (iv) a grant of performance-based RSUs with a grant date fair value of $347,840, subject to cliff-vesting on December 31, 2028 based upon the satisfaction of applicable performance conditions consistent with the corporate performance goals approved for the Company’s named executive officers for the performance period beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2028.
Appointment of Lead Independent Director
On July 21, 2026, the Board appointed Scott A. Estes, a current non-employee director of the Company, as Lead Independent Director, effective July 21, 2026. In connection with such appointment, Mr. Estes will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $40,000. Biographical information for Mr. Estes may be found in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the Company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 9, 2026.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On July 22, 2026, we issued a press release relating to the matters described in Item 5.02 above. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.
The information contained in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is being “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Description |
10.1 |
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Release of Claims Agreement, dated July 21, 2026, by and among, American Healthcare REIT, Inc., American Healthcare Opps Holdings, LLC and Danny Prosky |
99.1 |
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American Healthcare REIT, Inc. Press Release, July 22, 2026 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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American Healthcare REIT, Inc. |
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July 22, 2026 |
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/s/ Jeffrey T. Hanson |
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Name: Jeffrey T. Hanson |
Exhibit 99.1
American Healthcare REIT Announces Leadership Appointments
Jeff Hanson Named CEO; Gabe Willhite Elevated to President; Danny Prosky Retires as CEO, Continues as Director; Scott Estes Named Lead Independent Director
IRVINE, Calif., July 22, 2026 – American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE: AHR) (the “Company”) today announced leadership appointments that build on a decade of stability while accelerating the Company’s focus on platform-enhancing strategies as it enters its next phase of growth and value creation for stockholders.
Effective immediately:
Hanson had served as Interim Chief Executive Officer since February 2026, when Prosky began a medical leave of absence following a serious health event. After thoughtful consideration, Prosky has elected to step back from day-to-day executive responsibilities. The Board of Directors has appointed Hanson, a co-founder of the Company who has served as Chairman of the Board since its formation, to continue in the Chief Executive Officer role.
“In light of Danny’s decision to retire following a remarkable recovery and a tremendous 35-year career marked by excellence at every turn, I am honored to serve the Company as CEO, and I do so with great confidence in the depth of leadership we have established across this organization,” Hanson said. “Danny, Mathieu Streiff and I built this platform together over the past two decades, and Danny’s extraordinary leadership leaves an indelible mark for which we are profoundly grateful. His continued involvement as a director and trusted advisor is deeply appreciated by our Board of Directors and every employee of American Healthcare REIT.”
“Although my recovery has gone exceedingly well, I am fortunate that AHR’s depth gives me the flexibility to prioritize my family at this stage of my life. This Company is strong, the strategy is delivering industry-leading results, and the senior leadership team is exceptional,” Prosky said. “I remain fully engaged as a director and advisor to the executive management team, and I am deeply grateful to our employees, our operating partners, our Board of Directors and our shareholders for their trust over so many years.”
Willhite has been with the Company and its predecessors since 2016, when he joined as Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel. He was promoted to Executive Vice President, General Counsel in 2020 and then to Chief Operating Officer in 2022.
“Gabe’s elevation to President recognizes a decade of consistent performance and enterprise leadership. He has earned the confidence of our Board, the senior management team, and our key partners,” said Hanson. “His expanded role positions him to take on broader operational responsibility, specifically focused on strategies to further scale the platform. While we are proud of what this team has built, we remain focused on ensuring that the best version of this company is ahead of us.”
Willhite added: “I am honored by the Board’s confidence and am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Company in this expanded role. We are in the early stages of a generational investment opportunity in the senior housing sector, and I am excited to help lead the Company through such a dynamic and transformative period.”
Lead Independent Director Appointment
The Board of Directors has appointed Scott Estes, who has served as an independent director of the Company since August 2022 and Chair of the Audit Committee since June 2023, as Lead Independent Director. Estes is the former Chief Financial Officer of Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL), where he served from 2006 to 2017 and led capital markets activity that raised more than $24 billion in equity and unsecured debt capital. He also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE: EPRT) and as a member of the Board of Trustees and Audit Committee Chair of JBG SMITH Properties (NYSE: JBGS). Estes’ appointment as Lead Independent Director is an acknowledgment of his exemplary leadership and reflects the Company’s continued commitment to strong corporate governance.
“This transition reflects thoughtful planning and the strength of leadership that has been built,” Estes said. “Since I joined the Board in 2022, I have been extraordinarily impressed with the results delivered by AHR’s senior management and their strategic vision. The Board has full confidence in the team, and I look forward to supporting the continued execution of our business plan as Lead Independent Director.”
About American Healthcare REIT, Inc.
American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE: AHR) is a real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and operates a diversified portfolio of clinical healthcare real estate, focusing primarily on senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient medical buildings across the United States, and in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
SOURCE American Healthcare REIT, Inc.
Investor Contact:
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