CHICAGO – Today, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced John Banta as the new vice president, National Employee Benefits Administration (NEBA) and Blue Venture Fund (BVF), effective immediately. Banta has been serving as the interim vice president since January 2022.

In this role, Banta is responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of leading-edge investments dedicated to employee benefits and investing in the future of health care on behalf of NEBA, BVF and the National Retirement Trust.

“These dynamic programs help bring financial safety and groundbreaking health care services and technologies to people across the country,” said Christina Fisher, executive vice president and chief financial officer for BCBSA. “John’s broad industry experience, creative thinking and strategic leadership make him the ideal person to take this work to the next level and drive results that will make an even greater impact on Americans.”

NEBA is BCBSA’s retirement and disability benefit program that helps provide financial security for Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies’ employees. Banta oversees the program’s investment and treasury operations, the National Retirement Program, National 401(k) Program, and the National Disability Program.

The Blue Venture Fund invests in promising health care companies to bring innovative technologies and health care services to more people across the country.  

Banta joined BCBSA in 2014 serving as an executive director, advising on corporate development, innovation, multi-plan collaboration, blockchain and cybersecurity initiatives. He has also led BVF as its president and managing director, investing in and providing strategic counsel to the more than 65 companies in its portfolio today.

Banta is based in BCBSA’s Chicago office and has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois