Nicholas Westfall steps down as VITAS Healthcare CEO

MIRAMAR, Fla. - VITAS Healthcare, a leading hospice and palliative care provider and subsidiary of Chemed Corporation (NYSE:CHE), announced today that Nicholas M. Westfall will step down as chairman and chief executive officer to pursue other opportunities. The announcement comes as Chemed, with a market capitalization of $6.04 billion and strong revenue growth of 8.52% in the last twelve months, maintains its position as a key player in the healthcare sector.

Joel L. Wherley, who has been serving as president and chief operating officer, will succeed Westfall as chief executive officer, according to a company statement.

Westfall has led VITAS since 2016, overseeing a period of growth and operational transformation at the company. "It has been an honor to lead VITAS Healthcare and work alongside such a talented team," Westfall said.

Wherley brings nearly a decade of executive experience at VITAS to his new position. He has served as chief operating officer for eight years and was appointed president in 2024. In these roles, he has been responsible for operational performance, strategic execution and enterprise-wide initiatives. According to InvestingPro analysis, Chemed currently trades below its Fair Value, suggesting potential upside opportunity under the new leadership.

"I’m excited to lead VITAS Healthcare into its next chapter, focused on empowering our people and driving long-term growth," Wherley said.

VITAS Healthcare operates 58 service areas across 15 states and the District of Columbia, providing end-of-life care to more than 22,000 patients daily. The company employs over 12,000 professionals and delivers care primarily in patients’ homes, as well as in inpatient hospice units and through partnerships with hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities.

The leadership change was announced in a press release issued by the Miramar, Florida-based company.

In other recent news, Chemed Corporation reported disappointing financial results for the second quarter of 2025. The company’s earnings per share (EPS) were $4.27, which fell short of the anticipated $5.39. Revenue also did not meet expectations, totaling $618.8 million compared to the projected $650.6 million. These recent developments highlight a challenging period for Chemed, as the financial figures did not align with analyst estimates. The company did not announce any mergers or acquisitions alongside these earnings results. Analyst firms have yet to provide updates on their ratings for Chemed following the earnings report. Investors will be closely monitoring any forthcoming analyst opinions or company announcements.

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