# David B. Cotton

> David B. Cotton co-founded Meridian with Shery Cotton in 1997 and served as its chairman and CEO before WellCare acquired the family-owned group for approximately $2.5 billion in 2018. His business and civic interests have included Caidan Enterprises, Detroit real estate, student housing in Grosse Pointe Park and support for the Detroit Zoo.

- **Role:** President and Director at Caidan Enterprises, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Meridian, Caidan Enterprises, Inc., Grosse Pointe Housing Foundation, Detroit Crime Commission
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BS and MD, Loma Linda University
- **Known for:** Co-founded and led Meridian through its growth and approximately $2.5 billion sale in 2018., Regional EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, Consumer Services, Michigan and Northwest Ohio, 2013., Loma Linda University Alumnus of the Year, 2017.

## Career timeline

- **1997** — Co-founded the business that became Meridian with Shery Cotton.
- **2008** — The company adopted the Meridian name; the family also began its Grosse Pointe Park property effort during this period.
- **2013** — Received the regional EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award in Consumer Services for Michigan and Northwest Ohio.
- **2014** — Meridian and Bedrock acquired the former Compuware building for $142 million.
- **2015** — The Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness opened at the Detroit Zoo; Shery dedicated it to David for his birthday.
- **2017** — Named Loma Linda University Alumnus of the Year.
- **2018** — WellCare announced the $2.5 billion Meridian acquisition in May; the purchase became effective September 1.
- **2022** — DBusiness listed Cotton as a principal of Caidan Enterprises and described his local property investments.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and led Meridian through its growth and approximately $2.5 billion sale in 2018.
- Regional EY Entrepreneur Of The Year, Consumer Services, Michigan and Northwest Ohio, 2013.
- Loma Linda University Alumnus of the Year, 2017.
- Participated with the Cotton family in local housing, redevelopment and Detroit Zoo projects.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — The South Florida Business Journal reported that a trust associated with former Meridian CEO David Cotton sold an oceanfront Hillsboro Beach property for $41 million.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/david-b-cotton
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20