WellPoint Inc. is actively searching for a successor to President and CEO Angela F. Braly, who resigned yesterday, August 29. The board of directors created a search committee and will consider internal and external candidates with the assistance of a search firm.
John Cannon, EVP, general counsel, corporate secretary and chief public affairs officer, will act as interim president and CEO. Jackie M. Ward, WellPoint’s Lead Director, was named the non-executive chair of the board of directors effective immediately.
“Our Board continues to believe that time will prove the wisdom of potentially transformative actions taken under Angela’s leadership, from the sale of the pharmacy benefit management business to Express Scripts to the recent and proposed acquisitions of CareMore, 1-800-CONTACTS and Amerigroup,” Ward said. “But now is the right time for a leadership change. We believe the remaining executive team is dynamic and strong, with great potential to drive WellPoint’s future success, and John Cannon in particular is the right person to lead our most important initiative, which is the completion of the Amerigroup transaction. John has reported to the Board that he does not wish to be considered for the permanent CEO position.”
