Joslin Leadership

Ranch C. Kimball is President and Chief Executive Officer of Joslin Diabetes Center, the world’s largest diabetes research center, diabetes clinic, and provider of diabetes education. As Joslin’s seventh president and first business executive to hold these roles, Kimball sets the strategic direction of the organization and oversees all operations regarding its growth, and is focused on expanding the impact of Joslin on the healthcare epidemic of our time.

Kimball joined Joslin in February 2007 after serving as the Secretary of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As Governor Mitt Romney’s Chief Economic Advisor, he oversaw 22 agencies, four cabinet secretaries and more than 2,500 employees ranging from those at the Departments of Labor, Workforce Development, and Business & Technology, to the Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation.

Kimball has a demonstrated ability to build strong connections between state government, business and academic organizations for the purpose of finding new and innovative support for biomedical research. Susan Hockfield, President of M.I.T., hailed Kimball’s appointment and said, “Given his strong record of commitment to research and innovation, I know that he will work to ensure Joslin’s continued preeminence as a resource for our region, the nation and the world.”

Widely known and respected in the business community, Kimball led major reforms in improving Massachusetts’ economic development and achieved a long record of legislative success. Community leaders in Boston support his new role, with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino calling Kimball “one of the city's most respected and well-known business leaders, and a real star in the Romney administration."

In 2004, Kimball created the “Business Resource Team,” the state’s one-stop model for businesses seeking to grow in Massachusetts. In June 2006, the BRT celebrated its 219th and most significant victory, bringing Bristol Myers Squibb’s billion dollar bio-manufacturing plant to Fort Devens.  Kimball also helped write the Governor’s Economic Stimulus Bill, took a role in promoting the Governor’s healthcare reform package and toured more than 250 companies. Jack Connors, Chairman of Hill Holliday and Chairman of Partners Healthcare, remarked “Kimball is an outstanding choice for Joslin.” Connors noted, “With Kimball’s expertise in leadership, life sciences and his demonstrated ability to build relationships between legislative, business and academic communities, the Joslin will thrive and prosper.”

In 2006, Kimball received the Biotech Industry Organization’s award for top state executive in the nation. The Massachusetts Network Communications Council named Kimball one of its “Policy Makers of the Year” for 2005.

Kimball is Chair of Mass Development, the state’s finance authority that controls $650 million in land for redevelopment and issues $2 billion a year in bonds, and he sits on the Massport board.  Active in the community, he also serves on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, WGBH-TV, the Museum of Science and Wheelock College.

Previously, Kimball spent 25 years in the private sector helping businesses grow. He ran a private equity firm for Kissinger McLarty Associates and was a partner at Boston Consulting Group, working extensively with technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, media and healthcare companies during his 16-year tenure.

Kimball received an A.B. in Economics from Princeton University in 1980 and lives in Brookline, Mass., with his wife and two sons.