PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carol Ann Petren, 53, today was named executive vice president and general counsel of CIGNA Corporation, effective May 15. Petren, who has served since 2003 as senior vice president and deputy general counsel of MCI, Inc., will report to CIGNA Chairman and CEO H. Edward Hanway.
She succeeds Judith E. Soltz, who is retiring after 28 years of service with the company, the last five as general counsel.
"Carol brings deep talent, rich experience and a reputation for enormous energy and a sense of urgency to the role of general counsel," said Hanway. "I'm confident that under her leadership, CIGNA will continue to build on the solid foundation laid by Judy and her team."
As deputy general counsel of law and public policy at MCI, Ms. Petren was responsible for federal, state and international regulatory matters, investigations, litigation, employment law, federal and state government affairs, law department operations, and compliance. From 2001 to 2003, she was deputy general counsel of the law department at Sears, Roebuck and Co., where she managed litigation, product and general liability and employment matters.
Prior to joining Sears, she spent 18 years in litigation defense practice with law firms in Washington, D.C.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Petren served as a prosecutor in Jackson County, Mo., as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri and as counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
She graduated magna cum laude from Boston College and received her J.D. and L.L.M. degrees from the University of Missouri School of Law.
CIGNA provides employers with benefits programs, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. Serving millions of customers, clients and members in the United States and around the globe, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits; group life, accident and disability insurance; and health care coverages for expatriate employees. Web site: http://www.cigna.com/.
CIGNA CorporationCONTACT: Wendell B. Potter, CIGNA, +1-215-761-4450,wendell.potter@cigna.com
Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
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