The Atlanta Opera proudly announces the appointment of John M. Haupert, FACHE, as Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Haupert brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to community service to this role. He succeeds Rhys Wilson, JD, LLM, who has led the organization for the past six years.

Haupert has served as President and CEO of Grady Health System since 2011, where he has led transformative initiatives to expand healthcare access and improve patient outcomes. Under his leadership, Grady has consistently met or exceeded financial goals and has expanded its services, including the opening of the Correll Pavilion and plans for additional outpatient centers in underserved areas.

Joining The Atlanta Opera’s board of directors after serving as a key health advisor, Haupert has served since January 2021. Haupert played a significant role in bringing The Atlanta Opera through the pandemic lockdown successfully. As a member of the company's Health and Safety Advisory Board, he helped develop comprehensive safety protocols. These measures facilitated the launch of the innovative "Big Tent Series," which featured live outdoor performances adhering to health guidelines. Thanks to these efforts, The Atlanta Opera provided employment to over 120 artists and maintained live opera performances in Atlanta with no reported COVID-19 transmissions.

As Chairman of The Atlanta Opera's Board, Haupert will leverage his extensive leadership experience to further the organization's mission and continue the explosive growth of the company. He takes the helm as The Atlanta Opera is pursuing its Crescendo Campaign, a comprehensive funding plan to build the Molly Blank Center for Opera, a new performing arts center and organizational headquarters, and complete the presentation of opera’s most monumental achievement – creating a complete production of Richard Wagner’s four-opera Ring Cycle.

“As both a devoted opera enthusiast and my years in healthcare, I deeply understand the transformative power of the arts to heal, inspire, and unite communities, says Haupert. “I’m excited to take this leadership position at a time when The Atlanta Opera’s spirit of artistic innovation and community service is reaching new heights. The forthcoming Molly Blank Center for Opera—a visionary arts hub on the Atlanta Beltline—embodies this company’s spirit of artistic innovation and community service. I’m honored to help lead the Opera into this exciting new chapter of growth and impact.”

“John Haupert’s impact on this company during his time on our board has already been exceptional,” says Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera. “John has been a transformational leader for numerous organizations and I feel personally privileged to work alongside this great man. At the same time, I extend deepest gratitude to Rhys Wilson whose tenure was marked by extraordinary advances. As a champion of bold new initiatives, Rhys will continue serving on our board in a leadership role.”

In recognition of his impactful leadership, John Haupert was named among Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “2023 Most Admired CEOs”. He is also the recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Gold Medal Award, the organization's highest honor, acknowledging his contributions to healthcare at multiple levels.

Beyond his role at Grady, Haupert serves as Chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees, representing hospitals and health systems nationwide. His involvement in various boards, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Committee for Progress, underscores his dedication to the Atlanta community.