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Tuesday, 8 April, 2008 8:21 PM
Business Leader,
Nonprofit Volunteer to Head the American Red Cross
Photo
courtesy of PRNewsFoto/American Red Cross
Gail
J. McGovern, President & CEO of the American Red Cross.
WASHINGTON -- Gail
J. McGovern, a successful business executive and proven nonprofit
fundraiser, was today named President and CEO of the American Red
Cross. McGovern, who held top management positions at AT&T Corporation
and Fidelity Investments, has experience running large organizations
in competitive industries, and a track record for improving business
performance and service delivery to the public. Currently, she teaches
marketing at the Harvard Business School.
"Gail McGovern brings
outstanding leadership skills from the private sector, coupled with
a deep commitment to volunteerism," said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter,
Chairman of the Board of the Red Cross. "With a passion for
our noble mission and the people we serve, Gail will ensure excellence
in all areas of Red Cross service. On behalf of the entire Board
of Governors, who voted unanimously to approve her selection, we
warmly welcome Gail to the American Red Cross family."
"It is an honor
to be asked to lead the American Red Cross, the helping hand to
so many people in times of disaster and crisis," said McGovern.
"I am humbled and inspired by this incredible humanitarian
network of thousands of volunteers, workers, and supporters serving
their neighbors in communities across our Nation and world. I look
forward to joining them and am committed to the long-term growth
and success of the Red Cross and its life-saving mission."
McGovern has been recognized
twice by Fortune magazine as one of the most powerful and influential
women in corporate America. She spent 24 years (1974-1998) at AT&T
where she began as a computer programmer and rose through the ranks
to the second largest job in AT&T, Executive Vice President
of the Consumer Markets Division. In that position, she had direct
responsibility for residential long distance and internet services,
servicing 75 million customers, generating $26 billion in revenue
and overseeing 40,000 employees.
Joining Fidelity Investments
in 1999, McGovern oversaw all retail distribution channels in 85
locations. A year later, she became President of Fidelity Personal
Investments and was responsible for 4.5 million customers, $500
billion in assets, and 10,000 employees.
McGovern became a member
of the Harvard Business School faculty in June 2002. In 2007, she
was appointed to the chaired position of the MBA Class of 1996 Professor
of Management Practice and teaches in the MBA and Executive programs.
Over the years, much
of her volunteer time has been devoted to nonprofit fundraising.
As a member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Campaign
Executive Committee at The Johns Hopkins University, McGovern and
her colleagues kicked off a $2 billion, seven-year campaign. The
development team exceeded that goal two years ahead of schedule
and has now increased the goal to $3.2 billion. Her fundraising
activities also include events for Children's Hospital Boston, Dana
Farber, and the United Way of Boston. She also serves on two for-profit
boards: the Board of Directors of Hartford Financial Group and DTE
Energy.
Born in 1952, McGovern
received her Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Sciences from The
Johns Hopkins University in 1974. She received an MBA from Columbia
University in 1987. She currently resides in Boston with her husband
and 18 year old daughter.
McGovern will start with
the American Red Cross on June 23, taking over from Mary S. Elcano,
who is serving as Acting President and CEO. Ms. Elcano will return
to her position as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In addition,
the Red Cross recently announced that Jeffrey T. Towers, a veteran
fundraiser with more than 25 years experience in the non-profit
sector, will become Chief Development Officer for the organization.
In this role, Towers will be responsible for the overall fundraising
efforts of the charity.
About the American
Red Cross
The American Red Cross
shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly
half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and
supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a
charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends
on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform
its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org
or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.
Source: American Red
Cross
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