New York, NY — September 23, 2025 — New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) today announced the appointment of Andrea H. Cefarelli as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Blood and Laboratory Operations and Clay Rich as Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Blood and Laboratory Operations. These leadership appointments strengthen NYBCe’s ability to advance its lifesaving mission through operational excellence and innovation across its nationwide network.
“The strength of our leadership team is essential to ensuring exceptional stewardship of our organization, our people, and our mission,” said Christopher D. Hillyer, MD, President and CEO of NYBCe. “With over 30 years serving NYBCe, Andrea is a proven leader with unmatched knowledge of our lifesaving operations, and Clay brings extraordinary expertise in supply chain and innovation. Together, they will guide NYBCe into the next chapter of growth, and service for patients and communities across the country.”
Andrea H. Cefarelli has dedicated more than 30 years to NYBCe, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. She has overseen end-to-end blood and laboratory operations, including donor recruitment, collections, manufacturing, testing, and distribution, and has led NYBCe through public health crises including 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrea pioneered signature donor engagement programs such as the Little Doctors Program®, Bloodstock®, and GiveBloodNYC, and played a key role in launching NYBCe’s new Rye, NY campus.
Clay Rich, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, most recently served as Vice President of Supply Chain for NYBCe. Since joining the organization in 2016 through its merger with Innovative Blood Resources, he has advanced through roles in finance, production planning, and supply chain management. Clay played a pivotal role as a strategic partner in shaping NYBCe’s reporting and analytics platform, championing its adoption to improve inventory management and embed evidence-based decision-making across operations. His broader leadership was recognized with the President’s Award during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his military service included deployment to Afghanistan and earning the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Founded in 1964, NYBCe is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood centers, spanning 17+ states, serving 75 million people, and delivering one million blood products to more than 400 hospitals each year. Beyond blood services, NYBCe provides cellular therapies, specialty pharmacy, and medical support to over 200 research, academic, and biopharmaceutical partners, while its Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute drives breakthroughs in hematology and transfusion medicine. Together, these efforts position NYBCe as a vital lifeline for patients and communities nationwide.
“NYBCe has been my professional home for more than three decades and I am honored to now step into the role of COO of Blood and Laboratory Operations,” said Andrea H. Cefarelli. “I am proud to work alongside colleagues who dedicate themselves every day to ensuring a safe and reliable blood supply. In this new position, I look forward to strengthening our operations and expanding our impact for patients and communities across the country.”
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as Deputy COO of Blood and Laboratory Operations,” said Clay Rich. “My career at NYBCe has been shaped by extraordinary mentors and colleagues, and I remain committed to driving operational excellence and innovation in support of our mission. It is a privilege to help lead this organization and to serve the communities that depend on us.”
With these appointments, NYBCe strengthens its ability to deliver lifesaving blood products, advance groundbreaking research, and expand innovative therapies, ensuring patients and communities nationwide have the care they need.
