AARP’s New Chief, Barry Rand, Cites Health Care, Economic Security as Top Goals

A. Barry Rand
Photo by Andrew Cutraro

A. Barry Rand has taken over the reins at AARP, and in his first address to the staff today, the new CEO said that restoring the American dream by making sure that all Americans had access to affordable health care and economic security was paramount as the association moves forward.

“I understand the solemn responsibility I’m taking on … for what we want to do for Americans,” said Rand, the association’s first African American chief executive. “But I also recognize that I am the bearer of a solemn responsibility.”

Rand, who calls himself a child of the 1960s and a catalyst for social change, vowed to lead AARP in the fight for far-reaching health care reform and financial security at a time when opportunities lie ahead. He cited founder Ethel Percy Andrus’ vision and AARP’s history of “making life better for millions of people.”

“I cannot think of a better place to devote my passion, my energy and my personal obligation to broaden the door to the American dream so that more Americans can cross that portal,” Rand said. “Everywhere I’ve worked, my goal has always been to open the door to the American dream for all people, to broaden the culture of America by making it more inclusive.

“And to me, that’s what AARP is all about,” said Rand, a former Xerox executive. “In 21st-century America, the foundation of the American dream is quality, affordable health care and financial security. Those are fundamental—no one can achieve the American dream without them.”

But Rand said the dream was also about older Americans having options to continue working, to age in place at home and to give back to society—goals embraced and advanced by Bill Novelli, AARP’s outgoing chief executive.

“Barry understands the opportunities that lie ahead … as well as the challenges,” Novelli said as he introduced Rand to the staff. “And with the strong men and women of AARP, he will lead this organization into an exciting future.”

Novelli said that serving as AARP’s top executive for eight years “has been one of the greatest privileges and best experiences of my life.” He thanked board Chair Bonnie Cramer for praising the legislative and other accomplishments during his reign, including the passage of Medicare’s prescription drug program.

“I started my tenure as CEO some eight years ago with three great goals—in social impact, member value and global reach,” Novelli said. “You’ve all heard them more than once, and we’ve come a long way to accomplishing those goals.

“Now I am leaving, with many memories, with profound thanks to my talented colleagues and with enthusiasm for my next adventure.”

Novelli will be joining Georgetown University as a distinguished professor at the McDonough School of Business. He will teach leadership and management of nonprofit organizations, social responsibility and social entrepreneurship.

Rand, chairman of the board of trustees at Howard University, thanked Novelli for his leadership at AARP. But its work, he said, was far from finished.

“We’re at a pivotal time in our history,” Rand said. “What we’re going through right now in this country is giving us a glimpse of what America would be like if we have to redefine the American dream. Nobody wants that. We see more people struggling to get by. We see people losing their jobs, their homes, their retirement nest egg and their health care.

“People are hurting,” Rand added. “The unemployment numbers don’t just measure how many people are out of work; they measure the pain of America. They are evidence that the door to the American dream is closing for more and more people.

“So, we have to push that door back open, restore the American dream, and help people achieve it,” he said to rousing applause. “And that is what we will do.”

Carole Fleck is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin.