EAGAN, Minn., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota announced today that Colleen Reitan has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of the organization. Reitan joined Blue Cross in 1982 and was formerly executive vice president, operations.
"Colleen Reitan has developed a broad background in health plan management over her 20-year Blue Cross career," said Mark W. Banks, MD, Blue Cross chief executive officer. "Her new role provides important depth to our organization's leadership, enhancing our ability to focus on new areas of product and service leadership."
Banks, who was serving as president in addition to his CEO duties, will now focus his attention on the organization's long-term strategy and on key external relationships within the Blue Cross system and the health care industry overall.
Reitan has served in a number of leadership positions in her career with Blue Cross, including provider network management, strategic planning, business development, and as CEO of Blue Plus, the organization's HMO subsidiary. She was promoted to executive vice president of operations in November, 2003. Reitan has been recognized as an outstanding leader in health care. In 1999, she was named to The Business Journal's Forty under 40 list. In 2004, she was named to The Business Journal's Women to Watch list.
She received a bachelor of science degree from Minnesota State University- Mankato and a master's degree in health care administration from the University of Minnesota. Reitan resides in St. Paul with her husband, David; and two children, Eric and Hannah.
Banks also announced the following promotions: -- Denise McKenna to senior vice president, operations. She replaces Reitan. McKenna was vice president, enterprise service. She joined Blue Cross in 1994 and has served in a variety of roles including claims, provider network operations and planning. Before joining Blue Cross, McKenna was director of operations for the Ambulatory Care Centers of Sutter Ambulatory Care Corporation in Sacramento, Calif. She was an administrator for the Chico Medical Group in Chico, Calif., and served as a management service officer at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. McKenna holds a bachelor of science degree and a master's degree in public administration/health care administration, both from the University of San Francisco. She resides in Lakeville, Minn. -- Roger Kleppe to senior vice president from vice president, human resources and facilities services. Kleppe joined Blue Cross in 1994. Before joining Blue Cross, Kleppe was vice president of human and administrative resources for National Business Systems, Inc. Kleppe's experience in human resources spans a career of more than 28 years. A Minnesota native, Kleppe attended the University of Minnesota from 1971 to 1974, with a concentration in developmental psychology. He is a member of the Human Resources Executive Council, serving as president since 2001; Minnesota Human Resources Planning Society; Society for Human Resource Management; and the Executive Development Center's Advisory Board for the Carlson School of Management. Kleppe resides in Burnsville, Minn. -- Marc Manley, MD, to vice president and medical director, population health. Manley was executive director, Blue Cross Center for Prevention. Manley is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco use and cessation. Prior to joining Blue Cross, he was chief of the Tobacco Control Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute. He also directed the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study, which supported comprehensive tobacco control programs in 17 states. For his work in tobacco control, Manley has received awards from both the U.S. Surgeon General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Manley received his medical degree from the University of Washington, and a master of public health degree from the Johns Hopkins University. Manley resides in Apple Valley, Minn. -- Sanne Magnan, MD, Ph.D., to vice president and medical director, consumer health. Magnan was medical director, Blue Cross Center for Prevention. Magnan is a general internist who directed quality improvement and preventive services initiatives within the Blue Plus health plan from 1993 to 1998. With the creation of the Blue Cross Center for Prevention in 1998, she has guided prevention initiatives focusing on tobacco and physical activity. She also has actively guided Minnesota Decides, a Blue Cross initiative working with consumers on health care system reform. In addition to her work at Blue Cross, Magnan practices medicine at the Tuberculosis Clinic at St. Paul - Ramsey County Department of Public Health as a staff physician and is a clinical assistant professor of medicine for the University of Minnesota. She earned her medical degree and her Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Magnan resides in Minneapolis.
"I am confident that these changes will further differentiate Blue Cross in the market and lay the foundation for growth and success in serving our members," Banks said.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.6 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to http://www.bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MinnesotaCONTACT: Karl Oestreich of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota,+1-651-662-1502
Web site: http://www.bluecrossmn.com/
