New Directions Behavioral Health announces new Chief People Officer Lynn Merritt
The coordinated behavioral health company prioritizes its employees and talent development in 2021
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – June 28, 2021 – New Directions Behavioral Health
today announced that it has appointed Lynn Merritt
as the company’s new chief people officer (CPO).
Merritt brings to her new role over 15 years of human resources experience in the healthcare industry.
“We were seeking an innovative leader to partner with myself and our leaders on building and operating a strategic
people-focused talent agenda,” said President & CEO Shana Hoffman. “Our employees are the backbone of our
organization and we are committed to offering an environment and culture that prioritizes their well-being while
encouraging them to thrive. With Lynn’s leadership, we plan to build upon this foundation and further focus our efforts
on attracting, developing and retaining high-performing talent.”
As CPO at New Directions, Merritt will be responsible for leading the people organization, including the
talent and culture initiatives that will continue to support the current and future business strategy.
Merritt joins New Directions from Healogics, where she served as chief human resources officer, providing strategic direction
for all aspects of the HR function including talent acquisition and development, employee relations, compensation and
benefits and HR information systems and analytics. Merritt joined Healogics in 2015 as vice president of learning and
development.
Prior to her tenure at Healogics, Merritt served as executive director of human resources at Aetna and held
previous roles at Cigna and The Hartford. Merritt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University
of Connecticut and a Master of Science in Organizational Behavior from the University of Hartford.
“I’m thrilled to be joining New Directions at such an exciting and critical time for the behavioral health industry,”
said Merritt. “Creating an inspirational culture in support of this very important industry need is at the very core of
this organization’s purpose – and I’m honored to work alongside such compassionate individuals as we empower one another
to make a difference.”
New Directions, headquartered in Overland Park, KS and currently serving members in all 50 states,
employs nearly 800 employees. Learn more by visiting ndbh.com.
About New Directions Behavioral Health
New Directions improves access to quality behavioral healthcare through a comprehensive suite of coordinated behavioral
health services. The company reaches over 15 million individuals across the
nation, in partnership with health plans, employers and higher education institutions.
Leveraging more than 25 years of experience, New Directions delivers an integrated approach to
whole-person care with a commitment to innovation that puts members first.
Learn more at ndbh.com.
Media contact:
McKenzie Youngquist
816- 994-1531
myoungquist@ndbh.com
Media contact:
McKenzie Youngquist
816- 994-1531
myoungquist@ndbh.com