Lester Davis Biography

Lester Davis is the Vice President and Chief of Staff of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations. As a senior advisor to the president and CEO and a member of the Executive Leadership Team, Lester plays a key role in shaping organizational strategy, advancing enterprise-wide priorities and driving alignment across critical initiatives that support CareFirst’s mission.

In his role, Lester leads a portfolio of enterprise functions that are central to advancing CareFirst’s commitment to improving health outcomes and strengthening community well-being. He oversees efforts that address public health challenges through data-driven, population-level strategies; directs the company’s philanthropic and community investment initiatives through CareFirst’s Community Health and Social Impact team; and guides the organization’s approach to regional engagement through his leadership of External Affairs. In this capacity, he collaborates closely with internal teams—including communications, public policy and government affairs—to cultivate strong, mission-aligned relationships with non-profit organizations, public officials and civic leaders across the region.

Before joining CareFirst, Lester served as Vice President of Public Affairs at SKDK, a nationally recognized public affairs and strategic communications firm, where he advised mission-driven organizations on navigating complex policy, advocacy and reputation challenges. Prior to that, he spent over a decade in Baltimore City government, including serving as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Mayor’s Office, where he built strong partnerships across government and community sectors to advance inclusive policy solutions.

Lester’s commitment to public service and community advancement extends beyond his role at CareFirst. He’s served on the transition teams for Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen. Lester was appointed by Mayor Scott to the Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force. In 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed him to the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), where he supports statewide initiatives focused on community development and economic prosperity. He also serves as a Commissioner on the Baltimore Regional Transit Commission and as a member of the Baltimore Convention & Tourism Board, contributing to long-term economic and civic growth throughout the region.

Lester also holds leadership roles in non-profit and civic organizations. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Friends School of Baltimore and is a member of the American Heart Association of Maryland’s Heart Challenge Executive Leadership Team.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Norfolk State University.