PEORIA, Ill.--()--Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has named two new leaders for its Central and Northern Illinois market operations. Melody K. Berry will serve as Market Vice President and Practice Leader of Commercial Sales and Retention; Ross Westreich was named Market Vice President of Medicare operations.
“I’m pleased to have such strong leadership in place in Peoria to help serve and guide our members, health care provider partners, and customers with Humana’s wide array of innovative, affordable health and specialty products and industry-leading consumer tools.”
The announcement comes as a result of Humana’s May 2008 acquisition of OSF HealthPlans Inc., a Peoria, Ill.-based health-benefits company, from OSF Saint Francis, Inc. Both Berry and Westreich are based in Peoria, which serves as headquarters for Humana’s Central and Northern Illinois operations.
In her new role, Berry will work closely with insurance agents and brokers, promoting Humana’s complete portfolio of medical and specialty benefits, which includes group health, individual, vision, dental, long-term disability and life insurance offerings. Berry will oversee a staff of Humana sales and account management associates and will be responsible for sales activities in Illinois as well as the retention and service of existing customers. Previously, Berry served as vice president of marketing and communications at OSF HealthPlans, and has more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the health-benefits industry. Berry works with several local charitable organizations and currently serves as a member of The Children’s Hospital Development Committee.
In his new role, Westreich will be responsible for Humana’s Medicare operations in Central and Northern Illinois. He will oversee Humana’s Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage health plans as well as the strategic direction and growth of Humana’s Medicare business in the state. Westreich, who has been with Humana for 12 years, previously served as regional finance director for Humana’s North Region, encompassing Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Westreich has 17 years of financial and operations experience.
“Humana is making a long-term commitment to Illinois as a result of its strategic relationship with OSF,” said Mike Kasper, president of Humana’s Illinois Commercial market. “I’m pleased to have such strong leadership in place in Peoria to help serve and guide our members, health care provider partners, and customers with Humana’s wide array of innovative, affordable health and specialty products and industry-leading consumer tools.”
Deborah Gracey, president of Medicare Operations for Humana’s Great Lakes Region added, “Serving Medicare beneficiaries with distinctive products and services is fundamentally important to Humana, and I’m confident that our Peoria team’s extensive background, talent and experience will further enhance the value Humana brings to people with Medicare.”
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.6 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.
Over its 48-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases
- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
- Corporate Governance Information
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