Christine Hayes

The Central California Blood Center (CCBC) announced Christine Hayes as its new president and CEO on Tuesday. 

Hayes has more than 30 years of experience in the blood banking industry, including 22 years in various leadership roles at the Iowa-based  LifeServe Blood Center, one of the nation’s largest community-based blood centers. Hayes graduated from Iowa State.

“I’m honored to lead Central California Blood Center (CCBC), an organization committed to ensuring a safe, stable, lifesaving blood supply for our communities,” Hayes said in a statement to The Business Journal.  “For over 30 years, I’ve dedicated myself to the mission of saving lives,”

In her time as chief operating officer at LifeServe, Hayes managed a $50 million nonprofit and oversaw operations that supported more than 190 hospitals across multiple states. She also helped establish LifeServe as a leading provider of convalescent plasma during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hayes has served on numerous industry boards and committees, including the National Blood Collaborative, America’s Blood Centers and the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals (ADRP), where she was a past president.

“As CCBC enters this new chapter under Christine’s leadership, the organization remains committed to supporting the Central Valley’s healthcare systems with lifesaving blood products and ensuring donor experiences are welcoming and impactful,” the release states. 

Hayes shared her personal connection to the blood donation industry.

“My only sibling, my brother, fought a courageous four-year battle with a rare cancer and relied on countless blood transfusions throughout his treatment,” she said. “While he ultimately lost his fight, the blood he received gave him precious time with our family, and I am forever grateful to the donors who selflessly gave of themselves to help someone they would never meet.”

Hayes takes over for Christopher Staub, who served as CCBC’s CEO for over seven years.