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Finance leadership rarely makes headlines, yet it shapes how a company plans and grows. Acadia Healthcare added to that bench in the spring of 2026, and it named a familiar face to steer its finances.
Acadia Healthcare is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the United States, and Reeve Waud, founder of Waud Capital Partners, chairs its board. The finance move keeps steady hands in place during an active year.
The Appointment
On April 23, 2026, Acadia announced David Duckworth as interim chief financial officer, effective May 1. He succeeds Todd Young, who left to pursue a chief financial officer role at another company.
Duckworth is no stranger to Acadia. He was its chief financial officer from 2012 to 2023, so he steps back into a company and an industry he already knows well. Returning executives can move fast and skip the long ramp-up an outside hire would need at a company this complex.
Steady Hands During Growth
The timing matters. Acadia is in the middle of a busy expansion. Beds are being added and new hospitals opened, and finance leadership guides how the company funds all of it.
Alongside the appointment, Acadia reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance, including revenue of $3.37 billion to $3.45 billion. Restating those targets signals confidence in the plan, even as the leadership seat changes hands. Reaffirming guidance during a transition tells the market the plan doesn’t hinge on any single person.
Part of a Broader Team
Duckworth’s return pairs him with chief executive Debra Osteen, who came back to lead the company in January 2026. Two experienced leaders who know Acadia well now sit near the top.
That depth reflects the preference for seasoned management Reeve Waud has shown across his career. At Acadia Healthcare, capable and familiar people are kept in key roles, and that’s how the board aims to carry the company through its current run of growth. For a company this size, continuity in the executive suite can be worth as much as any single quarter’s numbers.
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