Fall 2024 Commencement Speaker

Robert J. Greczyn, Jr.

Bob is a seasoned health care executive and a dedicated advocate for East Carolina University (ECU) and ECU Health. Originally from Hightstown, New Jersey, Bob moved to Greenville, North Carolina, in 1969 to attend ECU. He quickly immersed himself in university life and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. His passion for improving public health led him to pursue further education, and he earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981.

With a strong foundation in both psychology and public health, Bob embarked on a distinguished career in health care that spanned more than three decades. His career began with a focus on rural health initiatives, and he played a pivotal role in starting a rural health program in Anson County, North Carolina. He then went on to establish a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in Delaware, where he successfully navigated the complexities of a burgeoning health care model.

Bob’s leadership was further demonstrated when he returned to the Triangle as CEO of Carolina Physicians Health Plan (later named HealthSource).  During that time, his expertise in operations, strategy, and patient care led to a remarkable growth for the organization. In 1998, he joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), where he became president in 1999 and CEO in 2000. an organization that was facing significant performance challenges. Bob led a comprehensive transformation that dramatically improved the company’s performance, strengthening its position as a leading health insurer in the state. After more than a decade of successful leadership, he retired from BCBSNC in 2010.

After retiring in 2010, Bob partnered with his oldest son, Will, to purchase six Mellow Mushroom restaurants in North Carolina.

Throughout his career, Bob remained committed to ECU and its health care initiatives. He has been a passionate supporter of the university and its mission, serving in numerous leadership roles. Bob chaired the ECU Board of Visitors, the ECU Board of Trustees, and currently serves as the Chair of the ECU Health Board of Directors. His unwavering dedication to the university and its health care system has helped shape the direction of ECU Health, an organization that plays a critical role in improving the health and well-being of Eastern North Carolina.

Bob, and his wife, Kristen, a fellow ECU alumna (c/o 1989), currently reside in Cary, N.C. They have four children, Will, Matt, Samantha (ECU c/o 2016), and Bailey.