INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPoint, Inc. announced today that John Watts has been named president and CEO of its national accounts business unit. The national accounts business unit serves WellPoint’s largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield multi-state employers (5,000 members or more), whose 6 million customers represent the fastest-growing segment of the company’s membership.
In addition, Ken Goulet has been appointed senior vice president of sales and account management for WellPoint’s new national account team. A recognized industry leader in the national account market segment, Goulet is responsible for all sales and account management activities for national accounts, as well as for developing marketing strategies focused on increasing national account marketshare for WellPoint, Inc.'s Blue entities.
Previously, Watts served as president and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa).
“John Watts led Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to extraordinary growth in all of its products and maintained recognized excellence in customer service and hospital and physician relationships,” said Larry C. Glasscock, WellPoint president and CEO. “John and Ken’s appointments will further enhance our already successful national accounts sales and service efforts.”
The announcements follow the November 30 merger between Anthem and WellPoint Health Networks that formed the new parent company, WellPoint, Inc. The merger makes WellPoint the nation’s leading health benefits company and reflects a new partnership that allows for the expansion of the company’s broad national presence, and provides enhanced customer service and improved operations and efficiency.
In his former position, Watts was responsible for managing all aspects of BCBSGa’s businesses and for setting strategies to meet customer needs. He brings to his present position exceptional experience in directing multiple customer segments in multiple geographies. Watts looks forward to applying his keen customer focus to the national accounts business unit.
“My first priority is to provide distinctive service and health care solutions to our national accounts customers,” said Watts. “I look forward to leading a talented group of associates who are committed to outperforming all competitors in providing quality health benefits and great value. We’ll be working hard to improve health, manage costs, introduce innovative products and deliver world-class, distinctive service to our customers.”
Under Watts’ leadership, WellPoint will continue to offer a comprehensive portfolio of flexible total benefit solutions that include health, prescription, dental, vision, life and disability, and behavioral health benefits. These products will continue to be branded as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and more information about benefits can be found online at http://www.anthem.com/ and http://www.wellpoint.com/ . The corporate and investor information can now be found at http://www.wellpoint.com/ .
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: Paul T. Branks, +1-317-488-6357, or James Kappel,+1-317-488-6400, both of WellPoint, Inc.