Mary Brainerd served as president and chief executive officer of Minnesota‑based HealthPartners, the largest consumer‑governed nonprofit health care organization in the nation. Under her leadership, HealthPartners experienced significant growth and became widely recognized as a national leader in the health care industry. She is one of the founding CEOs and a former chair of the Itasca Project, a coalition of 40 government, civic, and business leaders focused on addressing issues that influence long‑term economic vitality. Prior to joining HealthPartners, Brainerd held senior leadership roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Her honors include recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Health Care by Modern Healthcare, Executive of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, induction into the Twin Cities Business Hall of Fame, and the University of St. Thomas Award for Ethical Leadership.

Brainerd’s board service includes Opus Holding, the Bush Foundation, Stryker Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Securian, and Minnesota Public Radio.

Brainerd holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota.