Marty Hug, longtime CEO of Agemark Senior Living, announced that he is stepping down from the position and will continue at Agemark as Executive Chairman. He will also advise Agemark’s new CEOs, Forrest Westin and Michael Pittore. The official leadership transition will take place on June 1, 2025.
“My 38 years at Agemark have been a tremendous blessing to me and my family,” said Marty Hug, Agemark’s upcoming Executive Chairman. “I am honored to continue at Agemark because I still wholeheartedly believe that what we’re doing matters to residents and their families. And believe me, there are no better leaders than Michael and Forrest to carry us into the next 40 years of innovation, quality service, and exceptional care.”
Westin and Pittore’s fathers—Richard Westin and Jesse Pittore—founded what’s now known as Agemark Senior Living in 1983. Since then, Agemark has expanded to a portfolio of 28 senior living communities across six states, with plans to expand to even more communities across the U.S. Agemark also recently entered an agreement with real estate investment trust National Health Investors (NYSE: NHI) to sell six of its 24-owned properties to the Tennessee-based REIT in a sale-lease back deal.
Hug joined Agemark after meeting Westin and Pittore’s fathers when Agemark expanded into the Midwest. Starting as the director of one of Agemark’s properties, Marty has invested in the company’s growth and the broader development of the senior living industry since 1989.
“For nearly 40 years, Marty has embodied the servant leadership and genuine care that set Agemark apart in the senior living industry,” said co-CEO Michael Pittore. “It is impossible to count the ways he has contributed to the health of our company, where we have all benefited from his heart for service. We are very fortunate that he has agreed to stay on in an advisory role.”
In addition to advising the new CEOs as Executive Chairman, Hug will focus on teaching company culture, visiting Agemark communities across the nation, and supporting the continued growth of Agemark.
“This marks the beginning of a brave new chapter at Agemark that will both honor our legacy of people-centered care and prepare us for the next stage in our growth,” said Forrest Westin, co-CEO of Agemark. “Michael and I are incredibly honored and humbled by the trust placed in us. We look forward to serving our staff and residents with the same level of excellence they have come to expect from Agemark.”
After starting his career in investment banking and real estate development, Forrest Westin joined Agemark as Managing Partner in 2004. Michael Pittore spent eight years in real estate investment banking before joining Agemark full-time as Managing Partner in 2015. Their complementary skill sets are what inspired Agemark to consider a new co-leadership model that would better equip the company to address new challenges and opportunities facing the senior living industry.
In a recent editorial, Hug observed that his time in senior living has given him much more than a paycheck, stability, and a sense of personal accomplishment.
“It has given me a purpose and a platform to help others find theirs,” said Hug. “When you focus on other people’s success, not only does it give you purpose, but watching them be successful gives you tremendous joy. There is nothing more fulfilling in my role than seeing others succeed in fulfilling their purpose. When you focus on the success of others, your own success is practically guaranteed.”
