INDIANAPOLIS, March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WellPoint, Inc. today announced the retirement of two members of the company’s executive leadership team: David R. Frick, executive vice president and chief legal and administrative officer, and Rebecca A. Kapustay, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and a corporate executive vice president.
The company also announced the appointments of two executives to new positions: Angela Braly was named executive vice president, general counsel and chief public affairs officer, and Stuart Campbell was named president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri and Wisconsin. Currently, Braly is president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, and Campbell is senior vice president of strategic planning and management process.
WellPoint, Inc. was created November 30, 2004, from the merger of Anthem, Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri are operating units of WellPoint, Inc.
Becky Kapustay’s retirement and the two appointments are effective April 1, 2005. David Frick will retire effective July 1, 2005.
Retiring WellPoint Executives
David Frick joined Anthem in October 1995 in his current position, following service on the company’s Board of Directors. As a board member and as chief counsel, Frick has been instrumental in completing a series of transactions -- culminating in the merger last November that created the nation’s leading health benefits company with nearly 28 million members nationwide.
“David has played an enormously important role in creating the nation’s leading health benefits company,” said Larry Glasscock, WellPoint president and CEO. “While working to advance our company’s growth, Dave has remained focused on quality and service, and dedicated to the highest standards of integrity. He has been an important partner helping to lead our company. I thank him for the tremendous contributions he has made to us and to the health care industry.”
Frick served as Deputy Mayor of the City of Indianapolis from 1977 to 1982. He was a partner in the law firm of Baker and Daniels and from 1987 to 1992 was Managing Partner. He serves on the boards of several businesses and civic and cultural organizations, and he has received numerous honors for service to the community. Frick was twice the recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash award, the highest honor that the Indiana Governor can bestow for distinguished service.
Rebecca Kapustay has led Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin since it was acquired by WellPoint Health Networks in 2003. She is also responsible for WellPoint’s Medicare businesses, including AdminaStar Federal and United Government Services.
“Over the past 25 years, Becky Kapustay has created a valuable legacy, playing a leadership role in the resurgence of Blue Cross of California and the successful integration of Blue plans in Georgia and Wisconsin,” Glasscock said. “Her knowledge and many contributions provide us a strong foundation upon which we will build. I am very grateful to Becky for her willingness to stay on board through this merger transition period to help launch WellPoint, Inc.”
Kapustay joined WellPoint’s predecessor company, Blue Cross of California, in 1979. At Blue Cross, she established and ran the individual market segment business unit, and served as vice president of health management. She later served as executive vice president of WellPoint Health Networks’ Central Services area. Kapustay also served as president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, a WellPoint operating subsidiary.
New Executive Appointments
Angela Braly, executive vice president, general counsel and chief public affairs officer, will have responsibility for the following areas: Legal, Corporate Secretary, and Public Affairs (Government Relations and Corporate Communications).
Braly has served as president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri since August 2003. She joined RightCHOICE Managed Care Inc. in January 1999, then the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, as general counsel, also overseeing government relations. Prior to that she was a partner in the St. Louis law firm of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C.
Stuart Campbell, president, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri and Wisconsin, will oversee product and service innovation, underwriting and sales for the Blue plans in Missouri and Wisconsin. The Wisconsin operations will become part of the company’s Central Region, which also includes Missouri.
Prior to his current position, Campbell was senior vice president and chief of staff at WellPoint Health Networks Inc. He was named president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri in 2002 following the acquisition of its parent company, RightCHOICE Managed Care, Inc., by WellPoint Health Networks. At RightCHOICE, Campbell served in a number of positions of increasing responsibility, including chief financial officer. Prior to that, he was as a senior manager at Price Waterhouse.
“WellPoint is fortunate to have management of the caliber of Angela Braly and Stuart Campbell to assume these important leadership positions in our company,” said Glasscock. “Based on the strong contributions they have already made, I am confident that Angela and Stuart will play key roles in maintaining strong growth and continuing to improve service to our customers.”
As part of the organizational changes, WellPoint’s Medicare businesses will become part of the company’s Strategy and Central Operations division. Under the leadership of Executive Vice President Mark Boxer, Strategy and Central Operations plays an important role in the company, leading many enterprise-wide strategies, services and initiatives to leverage best practices for enhanced customer service, improved operations and better efficiency.
About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through HealthLink and UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com/ .
WellPoint, Inc.
CONTACT: Ed West of WellPoint, Inc., +1-317-488-6100
Web site: http://www.wellpoint.com/