Delta Dental of California and its affiliates announced that Mike Castro, the current chief executive officer (CEO), will be retiring on December 31, 2023. Following his retirement, Mr. Castro will assume the role of chairman of the board for Delta Dental of California, effective January 1, 2024. Sarah Chavarria, who is currently serving as the president of Delta Dental of California, will succeed Mr. Castro and take on the roles of president and CEO starting from January 1, 2024. Mr. Castro has been leading the company as the CEO of Delta Dental since 2019. Over the course of his two-decade tenure with the company, he has held various leadership positions, including serving as the chief financial officer for 14 years.
Mike Castro
“It has been a privilege to lead our business,” said Mike Castro, chief executive officer of Delta Dental of California. “Over the years, many people have asked how I want to define my legacy at Delta Dental. The simple answer has always been the same: to leave the company better than I found it, and in better hands. I’m proud to say we’re a stronger company than we were five years ago, and we have a deep bench of exceptional leaders to help us continue to capitalize on our position of strength thanks to the team.”
Sarah Chavarria was promoted to president in 2022 and has led the organization’s operations, technology, people, growth, marketing, and communication divisions. She began her career at Delta Dental as chief people officer and later expanded her leadership to include oversight of the other teams.
Sarah Chavarria
“I want to thank Mike for his support, exceptional leadership and dedication to Delta Dental, which have laid the foundation for a successful future,” said Sarah Chavarria, president of Delta Dental of California. “We will continue our partnership when he moves into his new role as chairman of the board. Together, we will ensure our customers, providers and employees remain at the forefront of our business and that we stay focused on our purpose to improve health by providing access to quality care for our more than 45 million members.”
About Delta Dental of California
Since 1955, Delta Dental of California has offered comprehensive, high quality oral health care coverage to millions of enrollees and built the strongest network of dental providers in the country. The Delta Dental of California enterprise includes its affiliates Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, Delta Dental of New York, Inc., as well as the national DeltaCare USA network, and provides dental benefits to more than 45 million people across 15 states and the District of Columbia.
All are members of the Delta Dental Plans Association based in Oak Brook, Illinois, the not-for-profit national association that through a national network of Delta Dental companies collectively covers millions of people nationwide.
For more information about Delta Dental of California, please visit www.deltadentalins.com.
*Delta Dental of California’s operating areas encompass Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and District of Columbia.
