eHealth appoints Derrick Duke as new CEO as Fran Soistman retires

AUSTIN, Texas - eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:EHTH) announced Tuesday that Derrick Duke will become its next Chief Executive Officer, effective September 18, 2025. Duke will join the online health insurance marketplace on August 4 to begin the transition process before officially stepping into the CEO role. According to InvestingPro, this leadership change comes at a critical time for the healthcare sector, where many companies are adapting to evolving market dynamics.

Duke will succeed Fran Soistman, who will retire as CEO but continue to serve on the company’s Board of Directors. Soistman will remain with eHealth as an executive advisor through December 31, 2025, to assist with the leadership transition.

Duke currently serves as CEO of Magellan Health, a healthcare management organization and Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) subsidiary. His previous experience includes senior leadership roles at Magellan, where he served as Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer. Centene, currently trading near its 52-week low with shares down nearly 58% over the past six months, maintains a strong market position with revenues exceeding $159 billion in the last twelve months. InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is currently undervalued, with 13 additional exclusive insights available to subscribers.

"I am honored to join eHealth at such a pivotal time in its journey," Duke said in the press release announcing his appointment.

Prior to Magellan, Duke spent nearly 16 years at HealthMarkets in various executive positions including Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. He also previously worked as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at National Health Insurance.

Beth Brooke, Chair of eHealth’s Board of Directors, expressed confidence in Duke’s leadership capabilities, citing his combination of financial acumen, operational expertise, and healthcare industry knowledge.

eHealth, which has operated for over 25 years, provides consumers access to health insurance plans from more than 180 insurers across the United States.

The announcement comes as part of a planned succession process following Soistman’s previously announced retirement plans.

In other recent news, Centene Corporation reported a significant earnings miss for Q2 2025, with an adjusted loss per share of $0.16 compared to the forecasted earnings per share of $0.23. Despite this earnings miss, the company experienced a rise in stock price, attributed to strong revenue performance and a positive outlook for future profitability. Additionally, Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded Centene’s stock rating from Overweight to Neutral, while reducing its price target from $65.00 to $38.00. The downgrade was influenced by concerns over "macro uncertainty" in the Health Insurance Exchange and Medicaid markets, particularly regarding Centene’s earnings exposure to the HIX segment. These developments highlight recent shifts in the company’s financial landscape and market perception. Investors may want to keep an eye on how Centene navigates these challenges moving forward.

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