Brett McClung is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Blue Zones, an organization described as the global leader in longevity research and helping people live longer, healthier lives, according to the Fort Worth Report.

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McClung has more than two decades of executive healthcare leadership experience, having previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Baptist Health and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Leader of Texas Health Resources, as reported by the Fort Worth Report.

Where Brett McClung Is Now

Brett McClung serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Blue Zones, succeeding Ben Leedle as the leader of the organization, as reported by the Fort Worth Report.

  • Current role: Chief Executive Officer and President (Fort Worth Report)
  • Organization: Blue Zones (Fort Worth Report)
  • Known for: More than two decades of executive healthcare leadership experience and serving as a client and partner on two of Blue Zones' largest Blue Zones Projects (Fort Worth Report)
  • Recent news: Blue Zones announced Brett McClung's appointment as CEO and President on October 5, 2026 (PR Newswire)

Executive Healthcare Career

Prior to joining Baptist Health, McClung served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Leader of Texas Health Resources, where he was an executive sponsor of the Blue Zones Project in Fort Worth, according to the Fort Worth Report.

McClung subsequently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, where he championed bringing the Blue Zones Project to the Jacksonville community, as reported by the Fort Worth Report. Across these executive roles, McClung served as a client and partner on two of Blue Zones' largest Blue Zones Projects.

Fellowships and Advisory Work

Following his tenure at Baptist Health, McClung was selected as a Fellow of Stanford University's Distinguished Careers Institute, where he explored the transformation of healthcare toward an upstream approach focused on illness prevention, according to the Fort Worth Report.

McClung also studied comparative health systems across different countries as an American Marshall Fellow, and engaged in advisory work with venture-backed healthcare companies in digital health, artificial intelligence, ambulatory care, and clinical trials, as reported by the Fort Worth Report.

Leadership Transition at Blue Zones

Blue Zones announced Brett McClung's appointment as CEO and President on October 5, 2026, according to PR Newswire.

McClung succeeded Ben Leedle as the leader of Blue Zones, as reported by the Fort Worth Report.

Healthcare Perspectives

McClung stated that he has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between people's current health and the health they are capable of achieving, according to the Fort Worth Report.

He also stated that Blue Zones demonstrates that meaningful, lasting change happens when communities and organizations collaborate to make healthy choices easy, as reported by the Fort Worth Report.

This profile reports what Brett McClung and Blue Zones have said publicly and what published sources state about them. It is not an endorsement of any product and not medical advice; talk to a clinician who knows your history before acting on any test or treatment.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Brett McClung?

Brett McClung is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Blue Zones and an executive with over two decades of healthcare leadership experience, according to the Fort Worth Report.

Whom did Brett McClung succeed at Blue Zones?

McClung succeeded Ben Leedle as the leader of Blue Zones, according to the Fort Worth Report.

What health system leadership roles did Brett McClung previously hold?

McClung served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, and prior to that as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Leader of Texas Health Resources, according to the Fort Worth Report.

What did Brett McClung explore at Stanford University's Distinguished Careers Institute?

As a Fellow of Stanford University's Distinguished Careers Institute, McClung explored the transformation of healthcare toward an upstream approach focused on illness prevention, according to the Fort Worth Report.

What did Brett McClung study as an American Marshall Fellow?

As an American Marshall Fellow, McClung studied comparative health systems across different countries, as reported by the Fort Worth Report.

When was Brett McClung's appointment as CEO and President announced?

Blue Zones announced Brett McClung's appointment as CEO and President on October 5, 2026, according to PR Newswire.