Michael Costa, CEO at Northern Counties Health Care in St. Johnsbury, has been named president and CEO at Gifford Health Care, effective Oct. 14. He will succeed Dan Bennett, who will retire from the role Oct. 11.

Prior to his role at Northern Counties, where he has served since 2019, Costa was deputy commissioner at the Department of Vermont Health Access, the state agency responsible for administering Vermont’s Medicaid health insurance program, and as deputy director of health care reform for the state of Vermont.

Veteran human resources professionals Dan Lyons and Susan Loynd have joined the total rewards team at The Richards Group, an independent insurance, employee-benefits and financial-services firm based in Brattleboro. Lyons will serve as managing director of human resources services, and Loynd will serve as strategic human resources business adviser.