LOUISVILLE, KY (August 20, 2019) — The American Red Cross is proud to announce the appointment of Steve Cunanan as the new Chief Executive Officer of the organization's Kentucky Region. In his new position, Cunanan will also serve as the CEO for the Louisville Area Chapter, one of five chapters in the region. 

The Kentucky Region — comprised of the Louisville Area, Bluegrass Area, Eastern Kentucky, South Central, and Western Kentucky Chapters — provides an array of essential services to more than 4.2 million residents in a 117-county area that stretches from most of Kentucky to three counties in Southern Indiana. 

Cunanan, who will begin working in his new job on September 16, will oversee an operation which includes nearly 2,500 volunteers and 193 employees. This combined workforce responds to more than 2,000 local disasters each year throughout the Kentucky Region; similarly educates residents on emergency preparedness; deploys to disasters outside the region; supports the collection of blood products; teaches health and safety course to individuals and companies; delivers aid to international Red Cross partners; and provides support to military members, veterans, and their families. 

Cunanan comes to the position with Red Cross knowledge and experience, having been a board member for the Louisville Area Chapter and Kentucky Region for five years, assisting and leading on several key fundraising committees. From 2013 – 2018, Steve served as Chief Administrative and Chief People Officer for Kindred Healthcare, with overall responsibility for the company’s human capital initiatives. 

The Kentucky Region’s Home Fire Campaign, a smoke-alarm installation, and education program the American Red Cross launched nationally five years ago to reduce injuries and deaths from home fires, is second only to New York City in terms of impact, with over 39,000 homes made safer, nearly 55,000 smoke alarms installed and over 57 lives saved by the program. The Kentucky Region is also considered a leader in Service to Armed Forces programs, having the highest client satisfaction rating in the country. The region, for example, houses one of only three emergency call centers for active military members and their families (the Hero Care Center) in the world, in its Louisville Area Chapter building. 

“I am thrilled to have someone of Steve’s caliber and experience to step up and lead the American Red Cross Kentucky Region,” said Marica Brey, Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter and Kentucky Region. “Steve brings a wealth of business knowledge and deep leadership capabilities from his previous roles as VP of HR, and most recently, Chief People Officer at Kindred. In addition, Steve has been an active member on the Red Cross board for the past 5 years successfully leading and growing several committees, and he has a heart-felt passion for the Red Cross’s mission.” 

“I am humbled and honored to serve as the new Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Kentucky Region. The Red Cross has been a passion of mine for many years, serving as a volunteer and board member.  Now, it is my deep privilege to serve the organization as its leader across the region.  I look forward to working alongside our dedicated volunteers and staff to live our mission and serve those in need,” said Cunanan.   

After completing graduate studies and military service, Steve joined Owens Corning, a leading manufacturer of construction and building products. He held several Human Resources positions and acted as business leader for a manufacturing department. 

In 1998, Steve joined Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon Endo-Surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio as HR Director for the Corporate support organizations, Research and Development and the Vascular Access business franchise. He was then promoted to Vice President, Human Resources, J&J Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics- International and was based in London, England. In this role he served as the Human Resources leader for Europe and Asia. Steve joined the J&J Consumer Companies in 2004 as Vice President, Human Resources, North America. In 2006, he was named Human Resources Integration Leader for the J&J acquisition of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and had accountability for all acquisition-related human resource, staffing, organization design and change management processes. In 2007, Steve assumed global Human Resources responsibilities for the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Group of Companies and was a member of the Consumer Group Operating Committee.

Steve was appointed Chief Human Resource Officer for Catalyst Health Solutions, a leading pharmacy benefit management organization, in 2011. 

He serves as a Board member for the East Carolina University Foundation, the Kentucky Region American Red Cross, Greater Louisville, Inc, USA Cares, and Kentuckiana Works. 

Cunanan succeeds Jennifer Adrio, who now serves as the CEO of the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/kentucky or visit us on Twitter at @KYRedCross and on Facebook at KYRedCross