Chapel Hill, N.C. (March 24, 2026) — HonorBridge, North Carolina’s largest organ donation and tissue recovery organization, is proud to announce that Kimberly Koontz has been selected as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 27. Koontz has dedicated more than 20 years to HonorBridge and brings over 25 years of experience in the organ and tissue donation field.
Koontz began her career at the North Carolina Eye Bank, now Precision Ocular Network, where she served as Communications Center Director. She joined HonorBridge in 2004 as a tissue recovery coordinator and has held a variety of leadership roles, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer since 2017. A North Carolina native, Koontz holds a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina State University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
During her tenure as COO, Koontz led significant organizational growth and innovation. Since 2017, HonorBridge has achieved a 45% increase in organ donors, a 26% increase in organs transplanted, and a 100% increase in tissue donation. She has played a key role in advancing new initiatives, including launching the first OPO-driven uncontrolled Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) program, establishing an Organ Utilization department, and developing a free-standing Donor Care Unit in Chapel Hill. Koontz is also a recognized leader at the national level, currently serving as Chair of the Organ Procurement and Transportation Network’s (OPTN) Operations and Safety Committee and holding multiple leadership roles within OPTN and the Association of Procurement Organizations (AOPO).
“Our search committee conducted a nationwide search that identified 35 prospective candidates who were considered for this position,” said Mike Smith, HonorBridge Board Chair. “We were thrilled that the best candidate to become our next President and CEO was someone who already worked for HonorBridge. Kim has grown within this organization, helped shape it, and has the vision and experience to guide us into the future. We’re excited for what’s ahead under her leadership.”
Koontz expressed her appreciation for the opportunity and the team she will lead.
“I’m incredibly honored to step into this role,” she said. “HonorBridge has been such an important part of my life for more than 20 years. I’ve had the chance to learn from so many people throughout this organization, and I’m grateful for that. I’m looking forward to continuing the work we all care so deeply about and supporting our teams however I can.”
The Board also extends its deep gratitude to Danielle Bumarch for her decades of leadership and service to HonorBridge and the broader donation and transplantation field.
“It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to be part of this organization,” said Bumarch, former President and CEO of HonorBridge. “I’m so proud of what this team has accomplished and the impact we’ve made together to save and heal lives. Kim knows this work inside and out, and I can’t think of a better person to lead HonorBridge into its next chapter.”
