HonorHealth CEO Todd LaPorte Named W. P. Carey's Executive of the Year

TEMPE, AZ – April 02, 2026 – Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business has named Todd LaPorte, the president and CEO of HonorHealth, as its 2026 Executive of the Year. The prestigious award recognizes LaPorte's four decades of leadership in the healthcare sector and his transformative impact on one of Arizona's largest and most integrated health systems.

LaPorte, who has been at the helm of HonorHealth as CEO since 2017, will be the 43rd recipient of the award, joining a distinguished list of global business leaders. The selection honors his strategic vision, which has guided HonorHealth through a period of significant growth, innovation, and an expanded commitment to community well-being across the Phoenix metropolitan area.

"It is a privilege to recognize Todd LaPorte as this year's Executive of the Year," said Ohad Kadan, the Charles J. Robel Dean and W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business. "Todd's leadership reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, financial stewardship, and community impact. His ability to guide a complex health care system while keeping patients and the broader community at the center of its mission exemplifies the spirit of this award."

An Architect of Regional Healthcare Growth

Under LaPorte’s leadership, HonorHealth has solidified its position as a cornerstone of the Arizona healthcare landscape. The organization now stands as one of the state's largest employers, with a workforce of over 20,000 clinical staff, support personnel, physicians, and volunteers. Its vast network includes nine acute-care hospitals, a behavioral health hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a comprehensive research institute, and hundreds of outpatient facilities serving more than five million people.

Since taking the CEO role, LaPorte has orchestrated a series of strategic moves aimed at creating a more integrated and accessible healthcare system. A key part of this strategy involved the acquisition of several Arizona-based Steward Health Care facilities, a move LaPorte described as a response to a critical community need where service availability was at risk. This expansion continued with the 2023 acquisition of 26 FastMed urgent care centers, bolstering immediate care options for residents.

Most recently, in January 2026, HonorHealth finalized the acquisition of 11 Evernorth Care Group locations from Cigna Healthcare of Arizona. This single transaction brought nearly 80,000 patients into the HonorHealth network, significantly expanding its primary care footprint and continuing a legacy of care from clinics with a 50-year history in the Valley. These initiatives reflect a clear vision: to build a seamless network that provides convenient, high-quality, and coordinated care across a rapidly growing region.

LaPorte's strategic acumen was honed over nearly two decades as HonorHealth's chief financial officer, a role he held before becoming CEO. During that time, he was instrumental in the complex financial and strategic integration of the John C. Lincoln Health Network and Scottsdale Healthcare, which merged in 2015 to form the modern HonorHealth system.

Forging a New Frontier in Medical Innovation

Beyond physical expansion, LaPorte's tenure is marked by a forward-looking commitment to innovation and education. A landmark achievement is the establishment of HonorHealth as the Primary Clinical Affiliate for the new Arizona State University School of Medicine and Medical Engineering. This pivotal partnership is designed to tackle the nationwide shortage of medical professionals by creating a new pipeline of talent educated at the intersection of medicine, engineering, and the humanities.

The collaboration aims to transform patient care by integrating advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and data science into clinical practice. The HonorHealth Research Institute, with its two-decade history of pioneering new treatments and therapies, will serve as a real-world laboratory for testing and implementing these new medical methodologies. This initiative positions HonorHealth not just as a provider of care, but as a key player in shaping the future of medicine itself.

LaPorte champions a proactive approach to health, advocating for a shift from reactive "sick care" to a model of "well care" that engages communities in preventative health. This philosophy is evident in HonorHealth's support for programs like the Blue Zones project, which focuses on creating healthier community environments, and the Desert Mission food bank, which addresses food insecurity as a key social determinant of health.

A Philosophy of Leadership Beyond the Balance Sheet

With a career spanning over 40 years, LaPorte's leadership is defined by more than strategic acquisitions and financial stewardship. His philosophy is rooted in a deep appreciation for his team and a focus on the human side of healthcare. He champions a culture where employees feel engaged and find joy in their work, once commissioning a mural for his office depicting staff members smiling, with the caption, "The joy of making a difference."

This commitment to community and service extends well beyond the walls of HonorHealth's facilities. LaPorte currently serves as the board chair for the Health System Alliance of Arizona, which represents the state's four largest healthcare systems. He is an active member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, a CEO advocacy group, and serves on the board of Experience Scottsdale.

His long history of civic duty includes past roles as board chair for a local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nationally recognized Scottsdale Aquatic Club, and the Paradise Valley School District's Foundation for Public Education. This extensive involvement demonstrates a holistic view of community health that aligns with his professional mission. It is this blend of business acumen and profound social responsibility that has become the hallmark of his career, making him a role model for aspiring leaders, including the MBA students he frequently addresses at the W. P. Carey School.

A Legacy of Excellence Recognized

The Executive of the Year award is a capstone on a career that has already received significant recognition. In 2012, LaPorte was named CFO of the Year by the Arizona chapter of Financial Executives International, and a year later, Becker's Hospital Review recognized him as one of the "125 Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know." His latest honor places him in the company of past W. P. Carey awardees such as Michael Dell of Dell Technologies, Alan Mulally of Ford Motor Company, and Howard Schultz of Starbucks, underscoring the national significance of his achievements.

LaPorte, who holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University, will be formally honored at a luncheon at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa on Thursday, April 23. The event is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.