American Heart Association’s NWA office in Fayetteville names new executive director

The American Heart Association (AHA) on Wednesday (Dec. 14) named Ian Hudspeth the executive director of its Northwest Arkansas office in Fayetteville. He is replacing Cindy Hudlow, who still works for the AHA but now heads up the Heart Walk, one of the AHA’s top annual fundraisers.

Hudspeth, according to a news release, will lead the office’s fundraising efforts and help connect the community to AHA healthy-living initiatives. He will also contribute to the accomplishment of the AHA 2020 Goal to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent, and reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases by 20 percent, by the year 2020.

“The fight against cardiovascular diseases and stroke is very important to me,” Hudspeth said in the release. “I lost my grandfather and father to heart disease. I am keenly aware of the need for the work the AHA does. I wholeheartedly believe in our scientific research and our health efforts in all our communities.”

Hudspeth was a territory and sales Manager for Lifetouch for 15 years before joining the AHA team. He has a degree in International Relations from Hawaii Pacific University.

Most recently, Hudspeth lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay area. He is originally from Reno, Nev.