Aetna Announces Leadership Changes in Line with Growth Strategy

Aetna News Release:


Aetna Announces Leadership Changes in Line with Growth Strategy

Joseph M. Zubretsky, Shawn M. Guertin, Karen S. Rohan Appointed to New Roles

Thursday, January 31, 2013 6:10 am EST

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced changes to its executive leadership team as part of the company’s growth strategy and a continuing effort to align its businesses with the evolving needs of its customers. These new roles will report directly to Chairman, CEO and President Mark T. Bertolini.

Joseph M. Zubretsky, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, will lead National Businesses, a new organization that includes Aetna’s National Accounts business, as well as Aetna’s emerging businesses, including Accountable Care Solutions, ActiveHealth Solutions, Medicity and iTriage. The organization Zubretsky will lead also includes Aetna’s national network contracting and care management areas; Aetna’s Specialty Products, including Behavioral Health, Pharmacy and Worker’s Compensation; and Enterprise Strategy and Corporate Development.

As part of the planned management transition, Zubretsky will be succeeded in his role as chief financial officer by Shawn M. Guertin, effective February 25, 2013. Guertin has most recently been Aetna’s head of Business Segment Finance, where he managed the finance organizations of all of Aetna’s businesses. Prior to joining Aetna in 2011, Guertin served for nearly five years as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Coventry Health Care, Inc.

Karen S. Rohan, executive vice president, also will assume a newly created position leading Aetna’s Local and Regional Businesses. Rohan’s responsibilities will include leadership of the company’s Individual, Small Group and Middle Market businesses; its field organization, including regional alignment to customers; its local network strategy, regional sales and distribution infrastructure; and its Group businesses. Rohan will continue to lead Aetna’s integration efforts for its proposed acquisition of Coventry, which is expected to close in mid-2013.

“The management changes we are making ensure that we have Aetna’s strongest leaders focused on driving our growth strategy across our core and emerging businesses,” said Bertolini. “We have a unique opportunity to drive positive change in the health care marketplace by fundamentally changing the relationship between health plans, providers and patients to one focused on improving the quality of care as a way to reduce costs. Aligning Aetna’s Accountable Care Solutions, care management and national network organizations and our flagship National Accounts business strengthens our ability to move decisively toward that goal. Joe Zubretsky is the right leader to take this effort forward.

“After nearly two years of strong performance in senior financial roles at Aetna and with his in-depth knowledge of Coventry, Shawn Guertin is well prepared to step into the role of chief financial officer,” Bertolini said.

Bertolini added: “Our proposed acquisition of Coventry also represents a strong opportunity for Aetna to create long-term shareholder value. In order to successfully integrate Coventry, we need to take advantage of the best of both organizations. And in part that means getting decision making much closer to the customer, by empowering and strengthening our regional businesses. Combining these responsibilities under Karen Rohan will help drive that result.”

After 26 years in the industry and 20 years at Aetna, Frank McCauley will be retiring from Aetna later this year. McCauley has been a distinguished leader, beginning his career in the company’s Medicare business and moving on to successfully lead a wide variety of regional and national businesses to profitable growth. Most recently, he served as a member of Aetna’s executive committee and led Aetna’s Commercial businesses, including National Accounts, Individual, Small Group and Middle Markets.

“Frank and I have worked closely for eight years, and many Aetna successes can be attributed to his efforts,” Bertolini said. “He is respected by our leadership team and employees across the organization. Until his retirement, Frank will work with me on a number of initiatives, including preparing the company for health reform. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.