July 16, 2025
Mizzou grads have held just about every type of leadership imaginable, from CEOs of multinational corporations to university administrators to heads of state. But Chris Hrouda, BHS ’87, might oversee the most vital resource of any Tiger leader: America’s blood supply.
As president of American Red Cross Biomedical Services, Hrouda oversees blood collection, testing, manufacturing and distribution for the iconic nonprofit. Since being promoted to the top spot in 2017, he has led through hurricanes, floods and wildfires — not to mention the COVID-19 pandemic. He has made sure the Red Cross kept critical supplies of blood flowing to millions in need.
Hrouda has been with the Red Cross since 1988, when he was a medical technologist at University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics for the Missouri-Illinois region. Since then, he has served within the organization, including as CEO of the Southern region, division vice president of the Southeast division and executive vice president.