Accendra Health names new CEO and chief commercial officer

Accendra Health, Inc. (NYSE: ACH) has named Kenneth Gardner-Smith as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, according to a company statement. Gardner-Smith, who has served on the company's Board of Directors since March 2022, is expected to assume the role early in the fourth quarter of 2026, succeeding Edward A. Pesicka, who announced his retirement in August.

Gardner-Smith currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Veritas Veterinary Partners, a national specialty and emergency veterinary platform, a role he has held since 2024. Before that, he spent 13 years at DaVita in various operating roles, including nine years managing $1.5 billion in operations and a senior executive position overseeing teams across more than 3,000 facilities in 13 countries.

"Kenny brings more than 15 years of operating leadership in reimbursement-driven healthcare and deep knowledge of our strategy and operations, making him the Board's unanimous choice to lead Accendra Health," said Mark Beck, Chair of the Board of Directors.

Pesicka will remain in his current role until Gardner-Smith takes over, after which Pesicka will also retire from the Board. He will continue as an advisor during the transition period.

Accendra Health also named Scott Lloyd as Chief Commercial Officer, effective October 5, 2026. The position is newly created to consolidate commercial strategy, sales, and provider and payor partnerships under a single leader. Lloyd co-founded Extrakare LLC, a durable medical equipment company, and most recently served as Chief Development and Strategy Officer at Evergreen Nephrology, a national value-based kidney care platform.

Lloyd will report to the Chief Executive Officer and serve on the executive leadership team. Accendra Health operates under its Apria and Byram brands, providing home-based care products and services across categories including diabetes, sleep health, wound care, respiratory care, urology, and ostomy.

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