PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independence Blue Cross Board of Directors, at its regularly scheduled meeting today, unanimously elected Joseph A. Frick as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, and Christopher D. Butler as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.
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These decisions by the board follow closely on the heels of the unfortunate passing of former President and CEO G. Fred DiBona, Jr., who succumbed to cancer on January 11.
Since January 4, 2005, Frick and Butler have jointly overseen the day-to- day activities of the company.
Robert H. Young, Esq., chairman of the IBC Board of Directors, said the board moved quickly to fill these positions because it felt the right people were already here, and so the management team could continue to focus on the important needs of our customers, and not be unnecessarily distracted by issues of succession.
“Continuity was critical to us as a company, especially considering the highly competitive industry we operate in,” said Young. “Both Joe and Chris are familiar with our business and our industry. They have distinguished themselves as part of a gifted senior management team that worked closely with Fred for more than a decade. They have been at the forefront of our strategic planning, and will now be even more instrumental in our future successes.
“We are quite confident in the senior team that Fred put together. Collectively, they have more than 175 years of service with our company. Their experience is absolutely crucial to tackling the emerging issues facing health insurers today ... and tomorrow. We fully expect that Joe and Chris, along with the continued dedication and hard work of our 9,000 associates, will successfully carry out the important mission of Independence Blue Cross.”
The IBC Board Chairman also noted that the issue of finding a successor to DiBona is not something that simply got their attention on January 11.
“Like most progressive companies, executive succession planning is part of our annual Human Resources management process. Throughout 2004, Fred appropriately discussed his health and work status with the board. And, when it became obvious that his illness was very serious, Fred sat down with us to further refine our succession planning options. I’m pleased we were prepared to make an expeditious and appropriate decision that positions us well for the long term.”
Frick, 52, had been Senior Vice President - Human Resources and Administration since 1997. In this capacity, he was responsible for corporate planning and business development, as well as IBC’s Human Resources and Administrative services functions. He joined IBC in 1993 as Vice President, Human Resources, after spending almost six years in several HR positions at Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. (PNI). Before coming to PNI, Frick spent 13 years at Westinghouse Electric Corporation in various training and development, quality control and planning positions. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with an MBA in Management from Loyola College.
Butler, 53, has been Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for IBC and its subsidiary companies since 1995. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Keystone Health Plan East, the HMO subsidiary of IBC. Before joining Keystone, Butler was Vice President, Major Accounts, for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio, and served in myriad capacities for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey.
He is a graduate of St. Francis University, Loretto, PA.
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.5 million people.
Note: Complete bios of Messrs. Frick and Butler follow. JOSEPH A. FRICK Biographical Profile
Joseph A. Frick, was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence Blue Cross, January 26, 2005. Mr. Frick had been Senior Vice President - Human Resources and Administration since 1997. In this capacity, he was responsible for corporate planning and business development, as well as IBC’s Human Resources and Administrative services functions. He joined Independence Blue Cross in March of 1993. Mr. Frick was promoted from Vice President, Human Resources to Senior Vice President in May of 1994.
Prior to joining Independence Blue Cross, Mr. Frick was Vice President of Human Resources at PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS. PNI publishes The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News. He joined PNI in 1987 as Personnel Development Director, responsible for Employee Relations and Training and Development functions. In January 1989, he was named Director of Personnel and in October of that year was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources.
Before coming to PNI, Mr. Frick spent 13 years at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, starting as a buyer/purchasing agent in 1974. He subsequently managed the Quality Circle Program, Training and Development, and Planning/Administration functions for the company’s Integrated Logistics Support divisions. In 1985, he was named Manager of Training Operations at Westinghouse’s Defense and Electronics Center.
Mr. Frick was an adjunct faculty member at Catonsville Community College between 1981-1987, teaching courses in Business and Personnel Management.
Mr. Frick is a member of the Human Resources Planning Society and the Society for Human Resources Management. He is past Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for LEADERSHIP, Inc., a program preparing Philadelphia area leaders for influential roles in the community and continues to serve as a Board member. In 1999, he was appointed by the Mayor as the first Chairman of the newly created Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board. He served in that capacity until 2001, and continues to serve as a Board and Executive Committee Member of this organization. Mr. Frick is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, PA.
A liberal arts graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Mr. Frick also received an MBA in Management from Loyola College. He and his wife, Amy, live in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania with their son, Tony and daughter, Kate.
CHRISTOPHER D. BUTLER Biographical Profile
Christopher D. Butler was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Independence Blue Cross, January 26, 2005. Since 1995 he held the position of Chief Marketing Officer of Independence Blue Cross and its subsidiaries, including Keystone Health Plan East and the AmeriHealth Companies. Mr. Butler also serves on the Board of Directors for AmeriHealth Administrators, AmeriHealth Agency, AmeriHealth Insurance Company of New Jersey, Comp Services Inc., and he is Vice Chairman of Inter County Health
Plan. He also serves on the Board of Directors of NaviMedix, a technology company dedicated to providing web based services to the provider community.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Marketing Officer, he had been serving since 1991 as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Keystone Health Plan East, a subsidiary Health Maintenance Organization of Independence Blue Cross.
Before joining Keystone, Mr. Butler was Vice President, Major Accounts for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio. Before joining the Ohio Plan, he had served since 1974 in a variety of managerial and executive positions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey. This service included:
-- President, NASCO of New Jersey, Inc., a subsidiary formed to develop and implement a national claim administration capability. He simultaneously served as Vice President of National Accounts with full responsibility for the Plans’ large multi-state accounts. -- Vice President, Consumer Division, managing direct mail/direct response marketing, underwriting, customer service, billing, claims and membership processing for individual health insurance business.
Mr. Butler serves on the Board of Directors for the Wilma Theater. He is active in fund raising activities for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and he was honored as United Way Co-Chairman of the Year for the Philadelphia region in 1998.
Mr. Butler, who has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA, is married and lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania with his wife, Lisa, and their two children.
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CONTACT: Jim Rhodes, Independence Blue Cross, +1-215-241-2220