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AArete names healthcare executive Pam Shipley as chief executive officer. Global consulting firm's founder Loren Trimble to step down after 18 years of growth and leadership CHICAGO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-#AI - AArete, a leading global management and technology consulting firm, announced today the appointment of Pam Shipley as chief executive officer. A Fortune 25 healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience, Shipley succeeds AArete founder Loren Trimble, who will transition from his role as CEO to board member. Shipley joins AArete from Centene Corporation, a leading managed care organization, in which she most recently served as chief strategy officer. She spent nearly 14 years at Centene over two tenures where she held multiple CEO roles in Georgia, Missouri and Mississippi and led digital transformation and market expansion across more than 15 markets. Over her three-decade career in healthcare, Shipley has built a reputation as an executive who combines deep operational expertise with technology-enabled innovation, including senior leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente and Sharecare spanning healthcare technology, provider operations and consulting-driven transformation. Recognized for her ability to align strategy, technology and operations to drive growth, Shipley brings to AArete a track record of helping organizations navigate complex transformations in highly regulated, technology-driven environments. "As a former client, I have worked closely with AArete throughout my career and witnessed firsthand the firm's ability to accelerate growth and drive results," Shipley said. "My work has always been personal to me. I've focused on making healthcare more affordable and effective for the people and communities served by health plans. AArete's talented team and proven solutions are uniquely positioned to help clients do exactly that. I'm honored to build on Loren's legacy and excited to continue delivering value for our clients." AArete drives profitability improvement, digital transformation and AI solutions for clients across several industries, with a particular focus on the healthcare payer segment. The firm advises U.S. health plans across lines of business, including Medicaid, Medicare, ACA Marketplace and commercial, helping clients manage the total cost of care and expand affordability without sacrificing quality or the member experience. In 2025, AArete secured a strategic investment from Parthenon Capital, a growth-oriented private equity firm with deep experience backing healthcare solutions and technology companies, further strengthening the firm's continued growth. "What we've built at AArete would not be possible without a culture built on integrity, excellence and care for the people we serve, and I'm proud that Pam will continue that legacy," Trimble said. "She's a purpose-driven leader whose passion for people and delivering results for clients reflects the values of the firm. I am confident she will lead AArete into its next chapter and build on the firm's success." Trimble established AArete in 2008 with the goal of building a consulting firm that nurtures long-term client partnerships. Under his leadership, AArete grew into a global firm with more than 500 team members, earning recognition as a Forbes World's Best Management Consulting Firm for four consecutive years and a USA Today Top Workplaces Award, underscoring the firm's strong culture and people-first approach. "AArete has become an essential partner to many of the nation's leading health plans, and Pam is exactly the right leader to build on the firm's momentum going forward," said Dan Killeen, partner at Parthenon Capital. "Her payer expertise and track record of driving growth and performance make her uniquely suited to lead AArete into the future. We are grateful to Loren for his visionary leadership and look forward to his continued engagement as a member of the board." About AArete AArete is a global tech-forward management consulting firm specializing in driving profitability improvement, digital transformation, and strategy & change for clients. AArete's solutions are powered by a digital-first mindset, market intelligence and data-driven approach to deliver purposeful change, actionable insights and guaranteed results. AArete humanizes data by translating numbers into actionable insights, helping clients make better decisions and standing by their side to foster change with confidence, empathy and purpose. For more information, visit aarete.com.

AArete signals next phase of growth with key leadership appointments. New leaders strengthen strategy, corporate development and clinical intelligence capabilities to deliver additional value for clients CHICAGO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-AArete, a leading global tech-forward consulting firm, today announced the appointments of Jeff Berger as vice president, strategy and corporate development, and Dr. Danielle Smith as vice president, clinical intelligence. These strategic additions reflect AArete's continued investment in leadership, innovation and specialized expertise as the firm advances its next phase of growth. "Jeff and Danielle will be great additions to the leadership of our growing firm," said Loren Trimble, chief executive officer of AArete. "They are accomplished leaders with proven track records of driving transformation, accelerating growth and delivering results. Their appointments reinforce our commitment to serving clients at the highest level with healthcare innovation as we position the firm for continued success." Jeff and Danielle's appointments reinforce our commitment to serving clients at the highest level with healthcare innovation as we position the firm for continued success. Loren Trimble, CEO Advancing firm strategy and growth. As vice president, strategy and corporate development, Berger serves as a strategic partner to AArete's executive leadership team, helping define firm-wide priorities and translate strategy into action. He leads the firm's corporate development initiatives, including merger and acquisition strategy, due diligence and post-merger integration. Berger brings more than 20 years of experience in strategy, corporate development and operational excellence. Prior to joining AArete, he spent two decades at Protiviti, where he partnered with executive leadership to advance enterprise strategy, organizational effectiveness and growth initiatives. Berger holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor's degree in accounting from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a Six Sigma Green Belt certified by the American Society for Quality. Expanding clinical intelligence capabilities. As vice president, clinical intelligence, Smith helps expand AArete's clinical intelligence capabilities across several strategic solution areas. Her expertise spans clinical operations, medical management, utilization management, clinical policy and government-sponsored healthcare programs. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and managed care, Smith has deep expertise in advancing healthcare quality, patient safety, clinical efficiency and value-based outcomes. Throughout her career, Smith has served as a transformational leader focused on quality improvement, operational excellence and healthcare innovation. Her previous leadership roles include vice president at Redwood Management Inc., national medical director for clinical policy at Molina Healthcare and program medical director/chief hospitalist at Sound Physicians. Smith earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She also holds a Lean Six Sigma certification and Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University. "We are fortunate to have Danielle and Jeff join our team. These leadership appointments represent another important milestone in AArete's growth journey," added Trimble. "As organizations face increasing complexity and pressure to transform, we are investing in the talent and capabilities required to help them navigate change, unlock value and achieve results."

AArete expands executive team with Jeff Berger and Dr. Danielle Smith. July 20, 2026 Jeff Berger and Dr. Danielle Smith AArete has strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointments of Jeff Berger as vice president of strategy and corporate development and Dr. Danielle Smith as vice president of clinical intelligence, expanding capabilities as the consulting firm accelerates growth and deepens its healthcare advisory services. The additions support AArete's strategy of investing in leadership and specialized expertise to meet growing demand for consulting services focused on healthcare transformation, digital innovation and operational performance. "Jeff and Danielle will be great additions to the leadership of our growing firm," said Loren Trimble, chief executive officer of AArete. He said both executives bring proven records of driving organizational transformation and will help the firm expand its healthcare innovation capabilities while supporting its long-term growth strategy. In his new role, Berger will work closely with AArete's executive leadership team to help define enterprise priorities and execute strategic initiatives. He will also lead the firm's corporate development activities, including merger and acquisition strategy, due diligence and post-acquisition integration. Berger joins AArete with more than 20 years of experience in corporate strategy, business development and operational improvement. He previously spent two decades at Protiviti, where he partnered with senior executives on enterprise strategy, organizational effectiveness and growth initiatives. His background includes expertise in corporate finance and process improvement. Berger holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a bachelor's degree in accounting from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and is both a certified public accountant and Six Sigma Green Belt. Smith will lead the expansion of AArete's clinical intelligence capabilities, supporting consulting engagements across healthcare operations, medical management, utilization management, clinical policy and government-sponsored healthcare programs. She brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience spanning clinical operations, quality improvement and managed care. Throughout her career, Smith has focused on advancing patient safety, improving clinical efficiency and supporting value-based care initiatives. Before joining AArete, she served as vice president at Redwood Management Inc., national medical director for clinical policy at Molina Healthcare, and program medical director and chief hospitalist at Sound Physicians. Smith earned an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She also holds Lean Six Sigma certification and a Six Sigma Black Belt credential from Villanova University. Trimble said the appointments represent another step in the firm's broader expansion strategy as clients seek guidance on increasingly complex operational and technology challenges. "We are fortunate to have Danielle and Jeff join our team," he said. "As organizations face increasing complexity and pressure to transform, we are investing in the talent and capabilities required to help them navigate change, unlock value and achieve results." AArete is a global consulting firm that advises organizations on profitability improvement, digital transformation, strategy and organizational change. The firm combines data analytics, market intelligence and technology-driven solutions to help clients improve operational performance, accelerate transformation initiatives and support long-term business growth.