Bernard J. Tyson

Chairman & CEO
Kaiser Permanente

Bernard J. Tyson is the chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals —known as Kaiser Permanente, one of America’s leading integrated health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. With annual operating revenue of nearly $65 billion, Kaiser Permanente serves 11.8 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia.

Tyson assumed the role of chairman in January 2014 and has served as CEO since 2013. His career at Kaiser Permanente has spanned more than 30 years. During that time, Tyson has successfully managed all major aspects of the organization, serving in roles from hospital administrator to division president to president and chief operating officer of the Oakland, California-based health care organization.

Under Tyson’s leadership, Kaiser Permanente continues to focus on providing affordable, accessible, high-quality health care and improving the health of its members and communities. The organization is delivering on its “Thrive” promise by bringing an industry-leading 21st-century approach to health care and coverage that is helping members achieve their aspirations of total health —physical health as well as mental health and wellness. Kaiser Permanente’s 200,000 employees and 20,000 physicians (with Permanente Medical Groups) provide personalized, coordinated and technologically advanced care that consistently delivers some of the best clinical outcomes in the nation, while also leading the country in prevention, patient safety and quality.

Tyson believes Kaiser Permanente’s combination of prevention, innovation and integration can serve as the model for health care in America. He is dedicated to leading Kaiser Permanente and the health care industry to deliver greater affordability and accessibility to high-quality care for members, consumers, employers and government agencies. He has also been a strong advocate for eliminating health care disparities among individuals by promoting the use of aggregated data from members’ electronic health records to determine the most effective treatments for optimal clinical outcomes.

Tyson’s influence has been felt both nationally and internationally. Modern Healthcare has named him the most influential health care executive for four consecutive years. He is No. 4 on the 2017 list, following Sens. Susan Collins, John McCain and Lisa Murkowski, who were named to the No. 1 spot collectively. In April 2017, he was included on the TIME 100 list of the most influential people in the world.

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Tyson earned a master’s of business degree in health service administration and a bachelor’s degree in health service management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He also earned a leadership certificate from Harvard University. Tyson serves on the boards of directors of the American Heart Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans. He is a deputy chairman of the International Federation of Health Plans, and is a steward of the World Economic Forum’s Global Challenge on the Future of Health. Tyson is chair of the Bay Area Council, a business-led public policy organization advocating for a strong economy and better quality of life for Bay Area residents.