PROVIDENCE – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island announced on Tuesday the appointment of Peter Andruszkiewicz as the new president and CEO, succeeding James E. Purcell.
Andruszkiewicz, who will take charge in late May, is leaving his position as president of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, the state’s largest nonprofit health plan. Purcell will remain with Blue Cross during the transition, retiring at the end of the year.
Andruszkiewicz’s experience includes sales, marketing and general management at Kaiser, CIGNA HealthCare and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of the National Capital Area (now CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield).
Andruszkiewicz was chosen after a year-long search from a pool of 124 candidates.
“I’m so honored to have been selected for this important role,” said Andruszkiewicz. “Although I’ve enjoyed working for larger organizations in other parts of the country, Rhode Island’s size and deep local relationships provide such a unique opportunity to have a real impact on helping people live healthier lives.”
A native of Salem, Mass., Andruszkiewicz graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts and serves on its board of trustees.
“Peter Andruszkiewicz’s track record of working collaboratively with providers, customers and other stakeholders to improve the healthcare system make him the ideal choice to continue the transformative work started by Jim Purcell,” said Deborah R. Jacobson, Blue Cross board chair. “He fully supports our mission to provide Rhode Islanders with improved access to affordable, high-quality health care.”
In addition, she continued, his 30 years of experience in the health insurance industry “make him uniquely qualified to play a leading role in working with the state’s leaders to implement health care reform here in Rhode Island.”
Purcell, 65, has served as president of the health insurer since January 2005. Under his leadership, Blue Cross has strengthened its position as a market, industry and community leader and remains the only commercial insurer in the state that provides guaranteed health coverage, regardless of pre-existing conditions, according to spokeswoman Laura Calenda.
So, how much will the latest CEO of this so-called non-profit be paid for his services? Will it be more or less than the outrageous amount paid to those who parachuted out before him?