From quiet departures to C-suite shakeups, here are eight recent executive moves at payer organizations:
BCBS Oklahoma appoints new president: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Vice President Stephania Grober will become president of the Tulsa, Okla.-based organization May 1.
Meridian Michigan names new chief medical officer: Kay Judge, MD, will serve as chief medical officer for the Detroit-based public health plan provider, effective April 10. Dr. Judge was previously regional medical director for Centene subsidiary Health Net.
BCBS Illinois abruptly swaps presidents: Steve Hamman quietly departed as president of Chicago-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois March 31. Stephen Harris was named president of the organization the same day.
Health Care Service Corp shakes up C-suite: Opella Ernest, MD, left her role March 31 as COO and became executive vice president of Chicago-based HCSC commercial markets. Dr. Ernest succeeds Jeff Tikkanen, who will advise on market initiatives before his retirement in 2023. Mike Frank left his position as senior vice president of pharmacy and ancillary business and is now senior vice president and COO.
Centivo taps new COO: Marc Backon became COO of the Buffalo, N.Y.-based health plan March 29. He will be responsible for commercial efforts and execution and delivery on behalf of clients, members and providers.
Healthy Blue Nebraska appoints new president: The Medicaid and CHIP health plan from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska named chief medical officer Rob Rhodes, MD, as president of the Omaha-based organization March 28.
BCBS Alabama promotes two execs: The Birmingham, Ala.-based payer named Noel Carden as senior vice president and CFO and Mark Manderson as vice president of treasury operations March 29.
Centene names new CEO: The St. Louis-based payer appointed vice chair Sarah London as chief executive officer March 22. Ms. London has assisted with day-to-day management of the company since February, when the late CEO Michael Neidorff took a leave of absence.