DALLAS, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nancy Brown has been named the next Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association, effective January 1, 2009. Brown was named to the position by the organization's national Board of Directors at its meeting on Wednesday. Brown is the first female CEO in the history of the association. She succeeds Cass Wheeler, who has served as CEO of the association for 11 years.
Advertisement
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081103/DC43700)
Brown has served as the association's Chief Operating Officer for the last seven years. Since 1986, she has worked with the American Heart Association in a variety of roles including Metro Detroit Director in the Michigan Affiliate; Executive Vice President for the Massachusetts Affiliate; Executive Vice President for the New England Affiliate; national Executive Vice President for Science Operations, and her current position of Chief Operating Officer at the National Center.
Advertisement
"Most organizations who lose a CEO like Cass Wheeler would be concerned about their transition, but the promotion of Nancy Brown to CEO is a celebration of her leadership and Cass' commitment to preparing the AHA for succession," said David A. Josserand, chairman of the American Heart Association Board of Directors. "We will always be indebted to Cass for his years of guidance and look forward to the next era led by Nancy Brown."
In her role as COO, Brown has been responsible for leading a number of significant advances for the AHA, including the launch of its cause initiatives (Go Red for Women, START!, Power to End Stroke, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation); the Winning with Talent Task Force, which was initiated to assure the AHA built upon its reputation as a great place to work and included the creation of the AHA University and the launch of a new employment brand; and the nationwide launch of the Get with the Guidelines hospital quality improvement program after successfully creating and piloting the program in the New England Affiliate. She was also responsible for managing the AHA's 2010 Strategic Planning process which resulted in a new mission statement, a new Strategic Driving Force statement, and a framework for the first-ever Global Strategic Plan, and is currently leading the process for developing the 2020 strategic plan.
"I am honored to have been appointed as the next CEO of the American Heart Association," Brown said. "Although we've made great progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke, our work is far from over. Too many people are impacted by the devastating effects of these diseases. The AHA will continue to work aggressively to help people live healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. I look forward to the opportunity to lead the AHA to its next level of success."
Prior to joining the AHA, Brown served as Director of Development/ Deputy Director of the Endowment Campaign for the Michigan Cancer Foundation, and as Special Events Director for Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2007-08 the association invested more than $559 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
Nancy Brown
Biography
COO, American Heart Association - National Center
CEO, American Heart Association, Effective January 1, 2009
Nancy Brown has been named the next CEO of the American Heart Association, effective January 1, 2009. Nancy has served as the association's Chief Operating Officer for the last seven years. In this role she has managed the operations of the Association's National Center and has led the AHA's integrated strategy to achieve its 2010 Impact Goal to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25%.
Since 1986, Nancy has worked with the American Heart Association in a variety of roles including Metro Detroit Director in the Michigan Affiliate; Executive Vice President for the Massachusetts Affiliate; Executive Vice President for the New England Affiliate; national Executive Vice President for Science Operations, and her current position of Chief Operating Officer at the National Center.
As COO for the American Heart Association, Nancy has overseen the Association's functions in Advocacy, Communications and Health Outreach, HealthCare Markets, Science, Consumer Markets, Corporate Operations, Technology and Customer Strategies, Strategic Planning and Human Resources. In this role, she has been responsible for leading a number of significant advances for the AHA, including the launch of its cause initiatives (Go Red for Women, START!, Power to End Stroke, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation); the Winning with Talent Task Force, which was initiated to assure the AHA built upon its reputation as a great place to work and included the creation of the AHA University and the development of a new employment brand; and the nationwide launch of the Get with the Guidelines hospital quality improvement program after successfully creating and piloting the program in the New England Affiliate. She was also responsible for managing the AHA's 2010 Strategic Planning process which resulted in a new mission statement, a new Strategic Driving Force statement, and a framework for the first-ever Global Strategic Plan, and is currently leading the process for developing the 2020 strategic plan.
Prior to joining the AHA, Nancy served as Director of Development/Deputy Director of the Endowment Campaign for the Michigan Cancer Foundation, and as Special Events Director for Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit.
Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Advertising from Central Michigan University.
Nancy and her husband Gary live in Plano, Texas.
SOURCE American Heart Association
