Press Releases
SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2026 – The American Cancer Society has named Courtney della Cava to its Board of Directors, bringing more than three decades of global leadership experience in business and talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, and governance as the organization advances its vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Serving alongside 19 other board members, della Cava will help guide the American Cancer Society’s strategic direction, resource stewardship, and continued progress toward measurable, life‑changing impact for cancer patients and their families.
“The mission of the American Cancer Society is deeply meaningful to me,” said della Cava. “In my work advising CEOs, boards, and leadership teams, I’ve seen how strong leadership and high‑performing organizations translate bold ambition into lasting results. The American Cancer Society does exactly that, supporting patients and families through challenging times while advancing the research and innovation transforming cancer care. There has never been a more exciting time to accelerate progress, and I’m honored to join the board and help expand its impact.”
Della Cava is based in Bay Area, and is an executive advisor at Blackstone, where she most recently served as a senior managing director and the global head of portfolio talent & organizational performance. In this global operating role, she led a team that drove meaningful value creation by improving leadership and organizational effectiveness across the Blackstone portfolio of 270 companies. She advised founders, CEOs and boards on translating investment theses into leadership, talent and culture strategies; board governance as an alpha creator; and succession and workforce planning with an eye toward the impact of AI on operating models and the future of work.
Before joining Blackstone in 2021, della Cava served as a partner at Bain & Company. With more than 20 years of global management consulting experience at Bain & Company in their Los Angeles, London and San Francisco offices, she served clients across multiple industry sectors. In her last role as a leader within their Talent and Leadership practice, della Cava advised corporate and private equity clients on CEO and board effectiveness and organizational and talent solutions, and she also built and led several of the firm's global human capital teams and client capabilities. She also served as a partner and managing director for Russell Reynolds Associates, a global executive search and talent assessment firm, and the European marketing director for Mars, Inc. She spent the first chapter of her career at WPP plc.
She has extensive public and private company governance experience, having served on the boards of Mphasis, Renaissance, and Rover; she is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the Culinary Institute of America. Della Cava earned an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from The University of California, Los Angeles, with a BA in economics.
She will be joined by three additional board members, Bryan McLaughlin, Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, and Justin Butler, under the leadership of Board Chair Terri McClements.
The Board of Directors is the governing body of the American Cancer Society, providing strategic direction to the chief executive officer by establishing priorities, reviewing and approving the American Cancer Society’s integrated strategic and financial plans, monitoring the organization’s financial health and risk mitigation strategies, and ensuring the responsible use of funds.
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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.