Indianapolis, In., USA - August 29, 2012, Indianapolis, In., USA - WellPoint, Inc., a health company, announced that its president and chief executive officer Angela F. Braly has stepped down from those positions, effective today.
Article continues below
Ms. Braly was named president and chief executive officer in June 2007 and assumed the role of chair of the board in March 2010. Prior to becoming CEO, Ms. Braly served as executive vice president, general counsel and chief public affairs officer for WellPoint. She also managed WellPoint’s National Government Services subsidiary.
Ms. Braly was previously president and CEO of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. She joined Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in January 1999, as general counsel, overseeing the company’s legal affairs and government relations, after serving for several years as a lawyer in private practice.
Ms. Braly also serves on the board of directors of The Procter & Gamble Company, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM). In addition, she is a member of Business Roundtable, The Business Council, and the Harvard Health Care Policy Advisory Council. Ms. Braly received her juris doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University.
The Board of Directors has established a search committee to consider both internal and external candidates, with the assistance of a search firm. In the interim, John Cannon, the Company’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Public Affairs Officer, will serve as interim President and CEO.
Mr. Cannon joined WellPoint on December 10, 2007. Prior to joining WellPoint, Mr. Cannon spent 19 years with CIGNA Corporation in a variety of increasingly responsible roles, including senior vice president and deputy general counsel. He was also responsible for public affairs at CIGNA, which included government affairs, communications and corporate branding strategy. Mr. Cannon also served as president of the CIGNA Foundation as well as chief counsel for CIGNA Healthcare and CIGNA International.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Cannon was an attorney with Rawle & Henderson in Philadelphia, where he specialized in litigation and securities law. He is a graduate of Denison University in Ohio and The Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Cannon is currently a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and the board of directors of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. ■