September 10, 2026

Aegis Living

Aegis Living has announced a planned leadership succession that will unfold over the coming year.

Dwayne J. Clark, founder and chief executive officer of Aegis Living, has led the company since its founding in 1997. On July 27, 2027, the 30th anniversary of the company's founding, Clark will transition out of the CEO role, handing the current President Dirk Burghartz the dual role of president and chief executive officer.

Additionally, Derek Doke, the current chief financial officer, will assume the expanded role of chief financial officer and chief investment officer. Clark will become the executive chairman, remaining actively engaged in the company's vision, culture, and long-term strategy.

Burghartz joined Aegis Living in 2025 as president, after a career in hospitality and operations with companies like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and has spent the past year partnering closely with Clark on strategy, community operations and growth.

Under Clark, Aegis Living has operated over 60 communities over the past 29 years and pioneered a hospitality-driven model of senior living, assisted living, and memory care that has redefined the category nationally.

Aegis Living has been recognized across every dimension of its operation: architecture, sustainability, and design honors for its communities; continued recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in America; and culinary awards for its restaurant-quality dining program.

Clark has received numerous lifetime achievement awards in the senior living industry. He is also a nationally bestselling author, an executive producer of film and documentary projects, and a keynote speaker on the future of aging. He is also the founder and host of the annual EPIC conference, Aegis Living's invitation-only leadership and longevity summit.

Clark will remain CEO while transferring day-to-day executive responsibilities to Burghartz and Doke into Q2 of 2027.

Founded in 1997, Aegis Living is a national leader in luxury assisted living, memory care and lifestyle communities for older adults, operating 37 communities across Washington, California, and Nevada, with additional communities in development.