Chapel Hill, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross) has appointed current Chief Financial Officer Gerald Petkau to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Petkau will oversee the company’s customer service, claims processing, project management and IT functions. The move comes after former COO Alan Hughes tendered his resignation.
Current Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer Mitch Perry will assume the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, reporting to President and CEO Brad Wilson. Perry will be responsible for Financial Accounting and Reporting, Business and Financial Planning, Treasury, Expense Management, Financial Systems, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, Financial Operations, COO Financial Support, Tax, and Workplace Resources.
Additionally, Chief Actuary Patrick Getzen and Chief Medical Officer Brian Caveney will now report to Wilson as members of the Senior Leadership Team.
“These four leaders share Blue Cross’ commitment to our customers and our communities, and will play key roles in our efforts to lead the transformation of the health care system in North Carolina,” said Brad Wilson. “They will work hard to make sure our company delivers the programs and level of service our customers expect.”
Gerald Petkau, Chief Operating Officer
Petkau joined Blue Cross in 2004 and was promoted to chief financial officer in 2009. Previously, Petkau worked with The Canada Life Assurance Company from 1992 – 2004, where he served in a variety of roles in three different countries, including Vice President, Group Insurance in the US, Vice President, Corporate Actuarial and Vice President, Acquisitions in Canada, interim CFO in the UK, and finally as CFO of the US Division. Prior to that, he filled a variety of actuarial roles with Travelers and Great-West Life.
Since his arrival in North Carolina, Petkau has been an active volunteer at Crosspointe Church in Cary and currently serves on the board of Alliance Medical Ministry. Petkau is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics.
Mitch Perry, Chief Financial Officer
Mitch Perry joined Blue Cross in 2012 and has served as Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer since 2014.
Perry has nearly 30 years of broad financial management experience in the insurance and energy industries and in providing financial consulting services to various industries.
He is the immediate past board chair and a current board member of The North Carolina Theatre, and a board member of the Independent College Fund of North Carolina.
Perry is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter. He holds a BS degree from Wake Forest University and MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Patrick Getzen, Chief Actuary
Patrick Getzen has more than 20 years experience in the health insurance industry. As Chief Actuary, Getzen’s responsibility includes pricing, valuation, underwriting, product development support, and financial planning support. Getzen also leads Blue Cross’s Enterprise Analytics division, a technology-focused team dedicated to ensuring the company’s actions are efficient and information-driven.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with a degree in Mathematics, Getzen is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Getzen applies his dedication to professional excellence to community involvement as well. An advocate for improving lives through better health, education, personal development and leadership, Getzen’s community involvement centers on these key aspects. He serves as a board member of Appalachian State Brantley Risk Insurance Center and Blue Health Intelligence.
Brian Caveney, Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Caveney has been with Blue Cross for five years, and has served as vice president of quality and performance value, and chief clinical officer of Mosaic Health Solutions. He is board certified in preventive and occupational medicine. He holds medical and law degrees from West Virginia University and master’s in public health from UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to joining Blue Cross, he was an assistant professor at Duke University. He continues to be an active adjunct faculty member of both the medical school and Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.8 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. We have been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute every year since 2012. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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