Rick Brajer, HEALTHCARE CEO/FORMER SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (NC)September 3-8, 2025
BS Chemical Engineering (Purdue University), MBA (Stanford University Graduate School of Business)
The son of Yugoslavian immigrants, Brajer brings over 20 years of president and CEO-level leadership experience operating within venture, private equity, public (IPO) and public service (cabinet level government) environments.
Brajer began his career at Procter & Gamble and at McKinsey & Company, environments deeply ingrained with proud teams, proud cultures and fact-based decision making. From 1990 to 2002, he held various leadership roles at Becton Dickinson, ultimately serving as an operating president and executive officer of the corporation. Following Becton Dickinson, Brajer led LipoScience, Inc., a venture-backed company, as the company’s CEO from turn-around stage through its successful initial public offering (IPO) in January 2013.
Recently, Brajer led system-wide reform efforts through public service as North Carolina's Secretary of Health and Human Services. This was a cabinet-level position for a $20 billion agency with approximately 15,000 employees.
His leadership efforts are now focused at the intersection of private equity and health care services for the vulnerable (intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, substance use challenges, the elderly, at-risk youth), both in community and long-term care settings.
Brajer earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Rick Brajer's LinkedIn profile
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