Walker and Messina are named Premera Officers

February 5, 2009

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, WA - Premera Blue Cross has hired Jim Messina as vice president and general manager of national & labor accounts and promoted Stephanie Walker to vice president for product and sales operations.

Messina's 20-plus-year career in the healthcare industry includes positions with Cigna and UnitedHealth in account management, finance, underwriting and operations. Most

recently he was president and CEO of CareSite, a spinoff of Geisinger Health Systems in Pennsylvania.

"Our customers are seeking innovative ways to build a culture of health in the workplace, to improve health and productivity, and to reduce benefit costs," said Heyward Donigan, Premera executive vice president and chief marketing executive. "Jim Messina's deep experience in health plan management and health-care delivery represents an unusual set of skills that will help Premera grow our national accounts and labor business and better serve our customers."

In addition to Messina's national and labor role, he will be accountable for building a new business for Premera focused on improving wellness and productivity of its customers' workforces. 

Walker has been with Premera since 1999, most recently as director of customer service in product and sales operations.

In her vice president's role, she will lead product strategy and development, retiree strategy and Medicare program management, and sales support and administration.

Walker has extensive industry experience in operations, customer service and provider relations, and previously worked for QualMed, Colorado Access and MetLife, among other companies.

About Premera Blue Cross
Our mission is to provide peace of mind to our members about their health-care coverage. We provide health care coverage and related services to more than 1.3 million people. Premera Blue Cross has operated in Washington since 1933, and Alaska since 1952. Premera Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Premera Blue Cross is a member of a family of companies based in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, that provide health, life, vision, dental, and long-term care insurance, and other related services. In the J. D. Power 2007 National Health Insurance Plan Satisfaction Study, Premera Blue Cross ranked highest in member satisfaction among health plans (regional and national companies) serving the western U.S.  2007 was the first time J. D. Power surveyed consumers about health plans.