Durham, N.C. - The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation is excited to announce that longtime president Kathy Higgins has been named the organization's full-time Chief Executive Officer.
Higgins has been at the helm of the organization since its founding in 2000, overseeing the strategic investment of more than $122 million into North Carolina communities. Throughout that time, she was also serving in a number of leadership roles at Blue Cross NC, including most recently as Vice President of Corporate Affairs, responsible for corporate communications and corporate citizenship functions for the organization. The promotion will afford Higgins the opportunity to focus full time on advancing the foundation's mission.
"I am really, really excited," said Higgins. "This is a great opportunity to become even more engaged in long-term strategy development and day-to-day operations of the organization. I am so very proud of the consistent hard work and dedication the foundation team demonstrates each day to better the lives of their fellow North Carolinians. And I look forward to being able to work directly with each team member in supporting and advancing this work."
In addition, Johnny Burleson has been named Director of Strategic Partnerships, providing key leadership in developing and enhancing local, state, and national relationships to both bring philanthropic and federal resources into the state, as well as develop opportunities for state and local efforts to come together in support of stronger, healthier North Carolina communities.
Johnny has spent the past 17 years in higher education advancement and philanthropy, and comes to the organization from the University North Carolina School of Government, having served as both the Associate Dean for Advancement and the Assistant Executive Director of the School of Government Foundation.
Both became effective January 2.