Kevin Donnellan

Kevin Donnellan is the executive vice president and chief communications officer (CCO) for AARP, the highly respected and influential 38 million-member nonprofit organization that represents people 50-plus.  

In that capacity, he directs the development of AARP’s overall communications properties, priorities and strategies. Under his leadership, AARP has become a 21st-century media conglomerate featuring AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest-circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; AARP VIVA, a bilingual lifestyle multimedia platform addressing the interests and needs of Hispanic Americans; a comprehensive digital presence at AARP.org; a diverse array of AARP-produced programming on television and radio; a rising social media profile; and several mobile apps. He has been instrumental in exploding the myth that older Americans are not wired into new communications channels.  

Prior to becoming CCO in 2006, Mr. Donnellan served in a number of advocacy, legislative, and public policy roles at AARP that proved critical to the growth and success of the organization. As AARP’s director of the Office of Grassroots and Elections, he led the association’s extensive state and national grassroots advocacy operations, e-advocacy efforts and renowned voter education initiative.

He also served as the director of advocacy and as legislative counsel for AARP. In the latter role, he facilitated the formulation, development and implementation of AARP’s legislative and public policy agenda – a volunteer member process. He coordinated the activities of AARP’s all-volunteer National Legislative Council.

He represents AARP on the Communications and Marketing Advisory Task Force of the Independent Sector and is a member of the Ad Council Advisory Committee on Public Issues, the Public Affairs Council Board and the Arthur W. Page Society. He also serves on the George Mason University Health and Human Services Advisory Board. He is a former chair of the board of directors of the Long-Term Care Campaign, and represented AARP on the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations. He was a member of the board of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association. From 1994 to 2000, he was a member of the ABA Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly. In 2011, he was named to Influence 100 – the 100 Most Important In-House Communicators in the World by the prestigious Holmes Report.

He came to AARP from Capitol Hill, where he was executive assistant to Rep. Geraldine Ferraro. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Government and Politics from St. John’s University in New York.

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