When Gail McGovern became President and CEO of the American Red Cross in 2008, the organization was facing serious challenges—a repeated turnover in leadership; a $209 million operating deficit and significant debt; an unwieldy organizational structure; difficulties within its Blood Services operations; outdated IT systems; a powerful but tired brand; and a fundraising strategy in need of a makeover.
During her ten years at the helm, she has led a major transformation of the organization, with a keen focus on strengthening service delivery to meet ever-increasing needs, reducing expenses to keep overhead low, and harnessing technology to bring the 137-year-old organization into the 21st century—all to better serve more people in need and make the best use of donor dollars.
With a dedicated team of volunteers and employees, and strong support from the Red Cross Board of Governors, Gail McGovern has acted to turn around an American treasure in crisis and ensure it continues its lifesaving humanitarian mission for generations to come.
Here are just some of her achievements in 5 key areas during the 10 years of Gail’s leadership: