David Laird is the retired chief executive officer of Heart Hospital of Austin, where he served from 2006 until his retirement in 2022. Under his leadership, the hospital became a nationally recognized center for cardiovascular excellence, earning numerous clinical and operational awards. David received numerous awards and accolades including “CEO of the Year” twice. Before becoming CEO, David served as regional chief financial officer for MedCath, Inc., overseeing ten hospitals, and prior to that held three CFO roles at hospitals in Texas and Arizona. His healthcare career spanned more than 36 years, beginning after graduating from Texas Tech University. David earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Tech in 1987 and later obtained his CPA license. He has been active in charitable and community organizations throughout his career and to present day. A proud Red Raider, David is passionate about supporting the continued success of Texas Tech University. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 40 years and have two daughters, Ashley and Lauren.