Former Feed the Children CEO Joins ADA as New CEO

Twitter Summary: @AmDiabetesAssn selects Kevin Hagan as new CEO, stay tuned for our interview on his vision for #diabetes + the strengths he brings to ADA

The American Diabetes Association announced that Kevin Hagan has been selected to be its next CEO. Hagan will be taking over the role from interim CEO Suzanne Berry, who has served this role since August 2014. We are glad that the ADA has found its next leader; this role is a major responsibility, and we welcome Mr. Hagan to the diabetes community as he enters this crucial position.

Mr. Hagan has heaps of non-profit experience – we’re particularly impressed by his apparent fundraising prowess, since fundraising will be such an important element of his role at ADA. Mr. Hagan comes to ADA after having the lead role at the international childhood hunger organization Feed the Children, where about $450 million was raised last year, putting it in the top 25 of the largest US charities. The ADA, by contrast, raised about $225 million in 2012, and the JDRF raised about $200 million. It does look like Feed the Children’s fundraising dropped about 15% over the last year, so Mr. Hagan is no stranger to hard times in philanthropy. We're eager to learn more about his fundraising goals for ADA.

Before Feed the Children (where he was for just under three years), Mr. Hagan was COO at Good360, which “The Nonprofit Times” characterized as a “high-profile gifts-in-kind” organization. Among other accomplishments, he sounds like he was an efficiency expert, cutting costs by 50% during his tenure. Mr. Hagan also brings corporate experience to the ADA – he ran Ethics and Training and subsequently Public Affairs and Communications at U.S. Foodservice before Good360.

In particular, of all his experiences, we’re moved by Feed the Children’s work, aptly characterized as “providing hope and resources for those without life’s essentials,” and we think Mr. Hagan will have a very good sense of the needs of those with diabetes, particularly those of minority communities or lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This new role at the ADA is Mr. Hagan’s first role in diabetes, though he brings a lifetime of passion for public health leadership. Indeed, the diaTribe team had the chance to speak with Mr. Hagan after the announcement to hear his perspectives on the state of diabetes, his plans for his first steps as CEO, why he’s excited to join the ADA, what strengths he hopes to bring to his position, and more. As Mr. Hagan discussed in our interview, his personal connection with diabetes in his family has been a driving factor in his decision to join the American Diabetes Association. We were moved in our talk by his dedication to helping raise public urgency around diabetes and improving the lives of all people touched by the disease. Stay tuned for our full interview with Mr. Hagan in our next diaTribe dialogue!  -AJW/KC