After 40 Years at UPMC, Diane Holder to Retire at Year End

By: Paul Wood

After a distinguished UPMC career spanning more than 40 years, Diane Holder will retire from her roles as president and CEO, UPMC Health Plan; president, Insurance Services; and president, Community and Ambulatory Services Division, at the end of 2024.

Holder has held a number of leadership positions at UPMC including President of UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. She was the founding CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health, which today is the largest not-for-profit behavioral health managed care company in the nation. She also led the rapid growth of UPMC’s health insurance and benefit management companies and led the UPMC effort with the Advisory Board Company to create Evolent, one of UPMC’s most significant commercialization efforts.

“Diane has been a true strategic leader and partner throughout her long and successful career at UPMC,” said Leslie C. Davis, president and CEO.

She has contributed to the community through extensive board service including the Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Chatham University, and is currently serving as the immediate past chair of the Heinz History Center, the first woman chair in its 145-year history.

Additionally, Holder serves as a director of the University of Pittsburgh, United Way, Allegheny Conference, Pennsylvania Insurance Federation, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Alliance of Community Health Plans, and Evolent Health. She co-chairs the National Academy of Medicine Value Incentives and Systems Collaboration, which focuses on health care payment reform.

She also serves as faculty of the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry and as the Chair of the Board of Visitors for the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. Her interest in facilitating the translation of best practices in health care for the patients and members of UPMC inspired her to create the UPMC Center for High Value Health Care, which has secured numerous awards from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute and other national funders.

Holder has been recognized often as a community and health care leader, including one of the “100 Most Influential People in Health Care” by Modern Healthcare; a “Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania” by Governor Wolf; an “Athena” awardee for her support and mentorship of women leaders from the Allegheny Conference; “The Fred Rogers Good Neighbor” awardee for community service; “A Lifetime Career” awardee from the Pittsburgh Business Times; and a “Women Who Make a Difference” awardee by the International Women’s Forum.