The nation’s largest senior living provider has a new CEO.

Brentwood, Tennessee-based Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD) has named Nick Stengle as its new chief executive, effective Oct. 6, 2025. Stengle also will serve on Brookdale’s board of directors. Stengle comes to Brookdale from Gentiva, where he was president and COO. Gentiva provides hospice, palliative and home health services, with approximately 550 locations across 38 states.

In April, then-Brookdale CEO Cindy Baier stepped down from her role that she held for seven years. In that time, Brookdale executed on a multi-year turnaround that included a 2020 lease restructuring with Ventas (NYSE: VTR) while also exiting most home health and hospice services in a sale to HCA in 2021 and the remainder in 2023. Stengle joins as Brookdale reached key occupancy milestones, reaching 80% in May and 82% in August.

Since late last year, Brookdale has offloaded a host of communities, including just under half of 120 communities covered in a previous master lease with Chicago-based REIT Ventas (NYSE: VTR).

Prior to Gentiva, Stengle was executive vice president and COO at Sunrise Senior Living, leading community operations, sales, marketing and clinical operations for the roughly 250 communities operated by the McLean, Virginia-based company.

Stengle now will be leading an even larger organization, with Brookdale’s portfolio encompassing more than 600 communities across 41 states. However, the company is aiming to reduce its portfolio to 550 communities by the middle of 2026 as part of a push to right size and increase the proportion of owned versus leased assets. A decade ago, following Brookdale’s 2014 merger with Emeritus Senior Living, the company operated over 1,100 communities. Since then the portfolio has been “rationalized” by way of asset sales and lease transactions.

“I’ve long respected Brookdale as a leading senior living operator, and it is an honor to join this talented team,” Stengle stated in an Oct. 2 press release. “Brookdale has a strong foundation in place with compelling long-term growth drivers, and I believe the company is well positioned to extend its leadership position in the industry as we enter the next chapter and capitalize on attractive industry demographics. I look forward to building on the company’s recent success and to capturing the significant opportunities ahead to drive shareholder value.”

In order to win on incoming demand, Brookdale had taken on an approach of “Winning Locally,” spearheaded by Baier, shifting operational decisions to communities and prioritizing occupancy, pricing and solving staffing challenges. Alongside its efforts to succeed in local markets, Brookdale has expanded its HealthPlus care delivery and care coordination platform with the goal of reaching 200 communities in the HealthPlus network by the end of this year, according to interim CEO Denise Warren.

The company also recently launched its EngagementPlus program which looks to “help our residents build meaningful friendships faster” and provide a “lifestyle that reflects their unique interests,”

In July, the company fended off a proxy fight with Ortelius Advisors after a contentious board vote that saw shareholders elect all eight of Brookdale’s board of director nominees during the company’s annual meeting earlier this year.

Stengle’s resume also includes 11 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, and positions with TPG Capital, HMSHost International, Marriott International and Boston Consulting Group. Stengle succeeds Denise Warren, who has been serving as interim CEO since the departure of Baier in April 2025.

“While I have enjoyed my time as Interim CEO, I am confident Nick has the strategic acumen, vision, and leadership skills to build on our strong momentum at this pivotal point in Brookdale’s history,” Warren stated in the press release. “His impressive track record of driving durable operational performance while building a culture of teamwork, excellence, and accountability uniquely positions him to ensure the company thrives by continuing to provide high quality care and experiences for our residents and our associates, with emphasis on growing our adjusted EBITDA and unlocking the significant amount of intrinsic value in Brookdale.”