Danny Prosky’s departure follows a medical leave that began in February, while incoming leaders point to senior housing as the company’s next major growth arena.

July 23, 2026

American Healthcare REIT Inc. has reshuffled its senior leadership, naming a new chief executive and president while its founding CEO steps back from day-to-day operations following a medical leave.

The Irvine, California-based company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AHR, said the changes took effect immediately as of July 22, 2026.

A Founder Steps Back

Jeff Hanson, a co-founder who has chaired the board since the company’s formation, becomes chief executive officer while retaining the chairman title. Hanson had been serving as interim CEO since February 2026, when longtime leader Danny Prosky began a medical leave of absence after a serious health event.

Prosky, who had led the company as president and CEO since its inception and whose career in the sector spans roughly 35 years, has retired from his executive post after what the company described as a strong recovery. He will remain on the board and continue advising the management team.

Willhite Elevated to President

Gabe Willhite has been elevated to president while continuing as chief operating officer. His tenure with the company and its predecessors dates to 2016, when he joined as a senior vice president and assistant general counsel, advancing to general counsel in 2020 and to chief operating officer in 2022. The promotion comes months after Willhite’s vesting of performance-based restricted stock units tied to a 2023 equity award.

New Lead Independent Director

The board also named independent director Scott Estes as lead independent director. Estes joined the board in 2022 and has chaired its audit committee since 2023. He previously served as chief financial officer of Welltower Inc. from 2006 to 2017, where the company said he oversaw capital-raising activity exceeding $24 billion. Estes currently chairs the board of Essential Properties Realty Trust and serves as a trustee and audit committee chair at JBG SMITH Properties.

Strategy and Portfolio

Management framed the transition as part of a broader effort to scale the company’s platform, pointing to what it characterized as an early-stage, generational opportunity in senior housing.

American Healthcare REIT owns and operates a diversified portfolio of clinical healthcare properties, concentrated in senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient medical buildings across the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Isle of Man.