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Founder / Operator·Behavioral Health

Anthony Kilgore

Chief Executive Officer at Behavioral Health Group

Plano, TX

AK
LinkedIn
Why they matter

A four-time healthcare CEO with a track record scaling PE-backed, multi-site platforms — now running BHG, making him the direct operator relationship for any behavioral-health-rollup diligence or add-on conversation.

Background

Anthony (Tony) Kilgore is a healthcare operating executive with more than 25 years of experience leading multi-site healthcare organizations, and has held four CEO roles across behavioral health, autism care, and home medical equipment. He became CEO of Behavioral Health Group (BHG), a Dallas-based, PE-backed addiction treatment platform, in June 2025, succeeding 11-year CEO Jay Higham. His prior tenure running the Blackstone-backed Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) gives him direct experience scaling a PE-owned behavioral health platform through rapid multi-site growth.

Notable deals

  • 2025
    Appointed CEO of Behavioral Health Group, a 115-location, 21-state addiction treatment provider, succeeding outgoing CEO Jay Higham
  • 2019
    Named CEO of Blackstone-backed Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), succeeding founder Doreen Granpeesheh, overseeing nationwide expansion
  • 2022
    Resigned as CARD CEO; replaced by CFO Jennifer Webster as part of a senior leadership reshuffle announced via press release
  • 2023
    Led Synapse Health as CEO, building a tech-enabled, digital-first home medical equipment (DME) distribution model serving patients in 44 states

Call-prep brief

Background

  • 25+ years of multi-site healthcare leadership; four CEO roles across behavioral health, autism care (ABA), and home medical equipment (DME).
  • Most recent operating role before BHG: CEO of Synapse Health, a digital-first DME distributor operating in 44 states.
  • Prior to that: Executive in Residence at Triple Aim Partners (a healthcare-focused operating/investment group) — signals comfort working alongside PE sponsors between full-time roles.
  • CEO of Blackstone-backed CARD (autism/ABA) from Dec 2019 to early 2022, succeeding founder Doreen Granpeesheh; resigned for undisclosed reasons in Feb 2022. CARD later filed bankruptcy and was sold/split in 2023 — worth understanding what, if anything, Kilgore attributes to pre- vs. post-departure decisions.

Current focus

  • Since June 2025, CEO of Behavioral Health Group (BHG), a Dallas-based, 115-location addiction/SUD treatment platform across 21 states, succeeding 11-year CEO Jay Higham.
  • Publicly emphasizes evidence-based, recovery-focused care and has signed a national pledge alongside other behavioral health leaders on mental health/addiction treatment standards.

What he cares about

  • Building high-performing teams and leadership benches while scaling.
  • Pairing growth with operational infrastructure/modernization (a recurring theme at both CARD and Synapse).
  • Positions himself as mission- and empathy-driven, not just a growth operator.

Sensitivities

  • CARD's post-Kilgore trajectory included a 10-state shutdown (Nov 2022) and Chapter 11 bankruptcy (2023) — approach questions about CARD's decline carefully; he left before the collapse but may be asked to draw a line.
  • His CARD exit was undisclosed/abrupt; avoid framing questions that presume wrongdoing.

Questions to ask

  1. What specific operational or infrastructure changes from your CARD and Synapse Health tenures are you porting over to BHG's growth plan?
  2. How do you view BHG's M&A/de novo mix today, and what's your appetite for accelerating acquisitions under new ownership?
  3. What lessons from CARD's post-2022 bankruptcy inform how you're structuring BHG's growth to avoid similar overextension?

Outreach draft

Subject
Quick call on BHG's growth trajectory?
Hi Tony, Congratulations on taking the helm at Behavioral Health Group. Your track record scaling multi-site healthcare platforms — from CARD's nationwide expansion to Synapse Health's digital-first DME model — stood out as we look closely at the behavioral health / addiction treatment space. We're a deal team evaluating opportunities in the sector and would value your perspective on where the market is headed, particularly around M&A pace, de novo growth, and payer dynamics. Would you be open to a 20-30 minute call in the coming weeks? Happy to work around your schedule. Best, [Your Name]

Linked companies

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