C.J. Davis transitions to Centerstone CEO

C.J. Davis has taken on the CEO role at Centerstone sooner than expected.

Davis became CEO on May 27, said Rance Burger, Centerstone's director of media and public relations. Burger said Davis and former Centerstone CEO David Guth Jr. decided to move up the date after previously announcing the transition would occur in 2027.

Springfield-based Brightli Inc. in November 2025 completed its merger with Nashville, Tennessee-based Centerstone, with the latter organization selected as the surviving name of the combined entity. Davis was formerly CEO of Brightli, the operator of Burrell Behavioral Health and others. 

“After working alongside C.J. throughout this affiliation and integration, I have tremendous confidence in his leadership and in the future of Centerstone,” Guth said in a news release. “He understands both the complexity of behavioral health care and the importance of keeping people at the center of every decision. He is an innovative and compassionate leader who will continue moving this organization forward.”

Guth is slated to become CEO emeritus starting in 2027. He's been with the organization for nearly 40 years.

Davis has more than 30 years of behavioral health leadership experience.

“Behavioral health is one of the defining healthcare challenges of our time,” Davis said in the release. “Our responsibility is to build a system of care that is more accessible, more connected and more responsive to the needs of the people we serve.”

Centerstone employs more than 10,000 employees, according to the release.