Blue Shield of California Names Four New Vice Presidents
January 14, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO - Blue Shield of California announced the appointment of four new vice presidents today, bringing new leadership to its eBusiness, Finance and Network Management divisions.
Serving as vice president of Business Transformation & eBusiness, Eskander Matta will be responsible for leading the strategy, development and management of Blue Shield's eBusiness portals. Matta has nearly 20 years of experience in consulting, systems integration, banking, and advertising, and was previously a senior vice president in Wells Fargo's Internet Services Group. He received his MBA from Harvard University and his bachelor's degree in Economics and History from the University of California, Berkeley.
Another new hire is Barclay Ferguson, who has been named vice president of finance for Customer Services and Corporate Marketing (CSCM). Ferguson will be responsible for the financial oversight of areas ranging from operations to product development. He has held a range of senior financial positions within the managed care sector, including vice president for Business Planning and Budget with Health Net and vice president of finance with WellPoint. Ferguson earned his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and his MBA from the University of Miami.
Two Network Management Executives Promoted
In Network Management, Kristen Miranda has been promoted from director of provider contracting to vice president of provider network management, where she will oversee all contract negotiations for provider networks in Northern California. Prior to joining Blue Shield, she held positions at WellPoint, Cigna Healthcare and Health Net. Miranda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from University of California, Davis.
Armine Kulinski, also formerly a director of provider contracting, has been named vice president of provider network management for Southern California, and will oversee all contract negotiations for provider networks in the region. Previously, Kulinski held executive positions in provider network management with Health Net. She received her MBA from Pepperdine University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Northridge.
About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health plan dedicated to providing Californians with access to high quality care at a reasonable price. Founded in 1939, it now has 3.4 million members, 4,700 employees, one of the largest provider networks and more than 20 office locations, providing a wide range of commercial and government products throughout the state. The company has contributed $100 million over the past three years to the Blue Shield of California Foundation to fund nonprofit organizations that improve access to quality health care in California. Contact your local agent or broker for more information about Blue Shield products and services, or visit the Blue Shield web site at www.blueshieldca.com.
