Richmond, Virginia – The UNOS Board of Directors has named Mark Johnson as UNOS’ chief executive officer, effective immediately.
Johnson joined the UNOS Board in April 2025 and was named interim CEO in December 2025. Since then, he has advanced UNOS’ work managing parts of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), while expanding the organization’s focus on data-driven research and analysis, expert consulting services, and patient-centered reforms to strengthen the organ donation and transplant system.
He also led UNOS’ partnership with NASA Langley Research Center and LifeNet Health, completing a groundbreaking beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone flight test transporting human research kidneys.
Johnson brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience in financial and operational excellence, strategy development, and business transformation, along with a commitment to improving health care delivery and organizational performance.
“Mark combines strategic insight with mission-driven leadership,” said Sue Dunn, chair of the UNOS Board of Directors. “During his interim tenure, he has led with clarity, curiosity and purpose, making strategic decisions to support UNOS’ future while taking time to understand the work and the people behind it. I’m excited for the future of UNOS with Mark at its helm.”
Before joining UNOS, Johnson served as CEO of Averhealth, where he led a turnaround for the nationwide provider of drug and alcohol testing in the criminal justice sector. He previously served as CEO of BetterMed Urgent Care, guiding the organization through significant growth and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, he held leadership roles at MeadWestvaco, NBC Universal, General Electric and ESPN.
Johnson earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Kentucky.
