VMG Health Taps Wes Champion as CEO to Drive PE-Backed Growth Strategy

DALLAS, TX – January 08, 2026 – Healthcare consulting firm VMG Health has appointed industry veteran Wes Champion as its new Chief Executive Officer, a strategic move signaling a new, aggressive growth phase for the company. Backed by private equity firm Incline Equity Partners, VMG Health is positioning itself to expand its market dominance by leveraging Champion’s more than 35 years of experience in scaling healthcare consulting and technology businesses.

The appointment comes less than two years after Incline Equity Partners acquired VMG Health in April 2024, a partnership explicitly aimed at accelerating the firm’s growth trajectory. Champion’s proven leadership, particularly his seven-year tenure as CEO of Kaufman Hall where he drove significant expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, aligns directly with this mandate.

“Wes Champion’s appointment represents a pivotal moment for VMG Health,” said Leon Rubinov, Senior Partner at Incline Equity Partners, in a statement. “His track record of building high-performing organizations aligns perfectly with our vision for VMG Health’s future.”

Champion succeeds Cyndy Carr, PhD, who led the firm as President, COO, and most recently CEO over a seven-year period. The company emphasized a close collaboration between the two leaders to ensure a seamless transition and maintain operational continuity.

A Playbook for Private Equity-Fueled Expansion

The selection of Wes Champion is a clear indicator of the strategic direction planned by VMG Health and its private equity sponsor. When Incline acquired the firm, its stated value enhancement plan included optimizing IT systems for scalability, professionalizing go-to-market functions, and, most critically, accelerating strategic M&A opportunities. Champion’s resume reads like a blueprint for executing this vision.

At Kaufman Hall, he successfully integrated targeted acquisitions while fostering internal growth, a dual-pronged approach that Incline aims to replicate at VMG Health. This history suggests a future for the firm marked by strategic acquisitions to broaden its service lines and enter new sub-specialties within healthcare advisory.

“Wes comes to us with a distinguished background in healthcare consulting and business leadership,” noted Greg Koonsman, VMG Health’s Founder and Executive Chairman. “His proven ability to drive growth in complex healthcare markets is exactly what we need to take VMG Health to the next level and expand our reach across the industry.”

VMG Health, founded in 1995, has already established a strong foundation with over 300 professionals across eight offices and a history of more than 70,000 engagements. Under Champion, the firm is expected to build on its core strengths in valuation, transaction advisory, and strategic planning while aggressively pursuing new avenues for growth.

Navigating Healthcare’s Mounting Complexity

Champion’s appointment comes at a critical time for the healthcare industry and the consultants who serve it. The global healthcare consulting market, valued at nearly $27 billion in 2024, is projected by some analysts to more than double to over $63 billion by 2034. This explosive growth is fueled by unprecedented challenges facing healthcare organizations.

Providers are grappling with a confluence of pressures, including shifting regulatory landscapes, the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care models, persistent workforce shortages, and the urgent need for digital transformation. The rapid integration of telehealth, electronic health records (EHRs), and artificial intelligence requires significant strategic and financial guidance, creating immense demand for expert advisory services.

VMG Health operates at the center of this complexity, advising clients on everything from mergers and acquisitions to regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. Champion’s experience at firms like Accenture and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young gives him deep insight into the technological and operational shifts reshaping the sector.

“I am truly excited to join this team,” Champion stated. “In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, I'm eager to build on that success and help our clients navigate increasing complexity while unlocking new opportunities that will strengthen our position as the industry's most trusted advisor for business performance.”

A Legacy of Leadership and a Vision for the Future

Champion’s 35-year career provides a deep well of experience from which to draw. His leadership roles at major industry players, including Premier, Inc., Accenture, and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, have given him a panoramic view of the healthcare ecosystem. However, it is his transformative leadership at Kaufman Hall that offers the most direct parallel to the task ahead at VMG Health.

His arrival marks the next chapter in VMG Health’s leadership, following a period of significant growth under Cyndy Carr. During her seven-year tenure as President, COO, and CEO, Carr was instrumental in guiding the firm’s strategy, operations, and expansion, including the acquisition of Health Care Futures in 2021. The smooth handover from Carr to Champion is intended to project stability and a continued commitment to the firm’s core mission.

With a seasoned growth-oriented leader at the helm and the strategic backing of its private equity partner, VMG Health is now positioned to redefine its role as a premier advisor in the rapidly transforming healthcare industry.