Puneet Leekha Installed as CEO of Chestnut Health Systems

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chestnut Health Systems™ welcomes Puneet Leekha, J.D., as its third Chief Executive Officer, effective October 6, 2025.

He succeeds David A. Sharar, Ph.D., who served as CEO for eight years and has been with the organization for more than three decades. Dr. Sharar now holds a dual role as Senior Research Scientist at Chestnut's Lighthouse Institute and Director of Business Development for Chestnut.

Leekha joined Chestnut in 2015 as its first-ever in-house General Counsel. He took on the additional role of Chief Operating Officer in 2018, leading initiatives that have strengthened business operations, employee wellness, strategic planning, and external partnerships. His leadership is grounded in clarity, resilience, and a deep commitment to Chestnut's mission.

With a visionary approach to integrated behavioral health, Leekha brings a dynamic blend of strategic business insight and deep commitment to nonprofit healthcare innovation.

"At the intersection of healthcare and business lies a powerful opportunity to transform lives," said Leekha "As an expansive not-for-profit organization and behavioral health research enterprise, we are committed to growing access, improving efficiency, and delivering care that is both cost-effective and deeply compassionate. Together, we will elevate how human services are delivered—with excellence, equity, and impact."

Leekha holds a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, with majors in Finance and Marketing. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. He is active in statewide behavioral health and primary care trade groups and has held leadership roles with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, The CEO Council, and the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, and the Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing Dean's Cabinet.

Leekha was recently featured on Chestnut Lighthouse Institute's podcast The Catalyst (www.chestnut.org/catalyst), where he shared insights into his leadership philosophy and management style, while outlining the most pressing challenges and greatest opportunities ahead. Listen here.

"Puneet brings a performance mindset rooted in compassion, strategic clarity, and impact," said Laura Haas, Chair of the Board of Directors. "We are excited to welcome him into this role and confident in his ability to lead Chestnut into the future."

Chestnut is a community-based health system providing integrated primary and behavioral health services in Illinois and Missouri and is a leader in behavioral health-related research through its Lighthouse Institute. The organization employs 800 staff and generates annual revenues of $80 million.

For more information, visit www.chestnut.org.

SOURCE Chestnut Health Systems