Beth Leonard

Beth Leonard is senior vice president and chief public affairs officer for Kaiser Permanente.

In this role, Leonard leads Kaiser Permanente’s national advocacy agenda on health care transformation and advances efforts to expand its distinct value-based care model for more people and communities. She is responsible for communications, government relations, and community relations activities at the federal, state, and local levels leading a team of professionals across national and regional markets.

A member of the National Executive Team, Leonard partners with the organization’s most senior executives, including regional presidents and executive medical directors, to shape enterprise strategy, influence policy, and drive impact for members and communities nationwide.

Leonard brings more than 2 decades of leadership experience in public affairs and the health care industry. She most recently served as chief corporate affairs officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance, where she led enterprisewide internal and external engagement, including media relations, digital and social media, strategic communications, government affairs, public policy, community engagement, partnerships, and events.

Previously, Leonard was chief corporate affairs officer at EmblemHealth, a New York not-for-profit health plan and provider organization serving more than 3 million members, where she oversaw communications, government relations, Neighborhood Care, and stakeholder engagement. Earlier in her career, she served as executive vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives for AHIP (formerly America’s Health Insurance Plans), the national trade association representing the health insurance industry. She also brings deep political experience, having worked on multiple presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, and mayoral campaigns.

Leonard holds a master’s degree in political management from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.