HARRISBURG, Pa., April 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital
BlueCross today announced that Todd A.
Shamash will take the top leadership role as the company's
president and CEO, effective immediately. The company's Board of
Directors had previously named Shamash to be acting CEO in
anticipation of last week's planned departure of Gary St. Hilaire, who was appointed to lead
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New
Jersey.
Shamash held the acting role for only three days before the
board voted to make it permanent. A full two-month candidate search
and evaluation process concluded last week.
"Our need for a trusted, committed visionary and strong leader
has been dramatically reinforced with the recent events across the
globe," said Capital BlueCross Board Chairman Kathryn P. Taylor. "We have worked with Todd for
many years and know him to be the best person to guide the Capital
BlueCross family of companies through this unprecedented health
emergency and beyond."
Shamash most recently served as senior vice president, general
counsel, and corporate secretary, leading the legal, regulatory,
and governance teams. He has been uniquely involved in all major
facets of Capital BlueCross' business for seven years, including
strategic partnerships, overall performance, diversification
strategy, subsidiary governance, finance, risk exposure, and
growth. His guidance has been pivotal in Capital BlueCross'
emergence as a leading health plan in one of the country's most
competitive healthcare environments.
He previously served as deputy chief of staff for
the Pennsylvania Governor's Office, where he oversaw
healthcare, insurance, and all health-related agencies. As
senior counsel for Jefferson Health System, he was responsible for
the oversight of reimbursement, payer relations, and malpractice
coverage for the second largest health system in Pennsylvania.
As department counsel for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, he
helped to establish managed care regulation mechanisms and health
insurance regulations.
"I am humbled and proud to serve on behalf of our Board of
Directors, my colleagues and all of our talented and committed
teams," Shamash said. "This is a remarkable time, in our industry,
in our world – and Capital BlueCross will be remembered for doing
the right thing for our members in central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley, and across the nation in this
moment and for the long term. Our role as an independent,
community-focused health plan has never been more important."
Shamash has served on numerous banking, insurance, community,
and health-related boards, including the Pennsylvania Employee
Benefits Trust Fund, Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange
Authority, and Pennsylvania Banking and Securities Commission.
He is an appointee of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom
Wolf on the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
and serves on the board of Harrisburg's Whitaker Center for Science and
the Arts.
He is a graduate of Dickinson Law School, a native of central
Pennsylvania, and resides in
Cumberland County with his wife
and two children.
About Capital BlueCross
For more than 80
years, Capital BlueCross has served Central
Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley by offering
health insurance products, services and technology solutions that
provide peace of mind to consumers and promote health and wellness
for our members. The company delivers innovative solutions through
a family of diversified businesses to create healthier lives and
lower healthcare costs. Among these solutions are patient-focused
care models, leading-edge data analytics and digital health
technologies. Additionally, Capital Blue health and wellness
centers provide in-person service and inspiration to help people
reach their health goals.
Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the BlueCross
BlueShield Association.
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SOURCE Capital BlueCross