Indian American executive Ike Anand has become President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the largest healthcare charity in the U.S.
Anand, the first South Asian and seventh CEO of ALSAC in its 68-year history, is taking the helm midway through a monumental six-year $12.9 billion strategic plan launched by St. Jude in 2022 aimed at advancing cures and treatments globally – the largest such initiative in the organization’s history.
He will spearhead fundraising for the hospital’s strategic plan to advance cures and treatments globally aimed to help the 400,00 children around the world who develop cancer each year, according to a media release. The fundraising has helped make breakthroughs in critical pediatric cancer research and care possible and has ensured that families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
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“I am deeply honored to be chosen to lead such a remarkable organization,” said Anand, who has served as interim CEO since March and as chief operating officer since 2020, “The mission of St. Jude holds a special place in my heart, and I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure ALSAC continues to provide the vital resources needed for St. Jude to confront the immense global challenge of childhood cancer.”
“Together as one team with one mission, the dedicated board and the talented, purpose-driven teams at ALSAC and St. Jude will build on our strong foundation and drive forward with new initiatives that will enhance our impact globally,” he said.
“Throughout his tenure, Ike has demonstrated visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to the St. Jude mission,” said Frederick M. Azar, MD, chair of the ALSAC Board of Directors. “His passion and dedication have been instrumental in redefining our strategic direction. We are confident that under Ike’s leadership, ALSAC will continue to grow and advance the mission of St. Jude to impact more of the 400,000 children around the world who develop cancer each year.”
Marlo Thomas, the national outreach director for St. Jude and daughter of the late entertainer and philanthropist Danny Thomas who founded ALSAC and St. Jude, said “When my father founded St. Jude with a dream that no child should die in the dawn of life, he meant no child anywhere.
“Ike Anand is the perfect person to carry that dream forward and help continue to expand our mission globally. Ike’s heart, his vision, and his deep understanding of our mission make him uniquely suited to lead ALSAC into the future. I know my father would be proud of our choice.”
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With a distinguished career spanning both non-profit and for-profit sectors, Anand brings a wealth of experience in building and leading highly effective global teams, the release stated. His visionary leadership has been pivotal in ALSAC’s digital transformation, significantly enhancing data and technology capabilities.
Anand’s strategic acumen has helped drive industry-leading revenue growth while maintaining low operational costs, ensuring steadfast stewardship of donor contributions for maximum impact. As interim CEO, Anand led a revision of ALSAC’s strategic plan.
Before joining ALSAC, Anand served as global vice president of strategy for Expedia Group, where he spearheaded some of the company’s most critical cross-functional initiatives over his nearly 15-year tenure. His expertise in investment opportunities, marketing strategy, analytics, and global strategy positions him uniquely to lead ALSAC into its next chapter of innovation and success.