Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina names new president

Dr. Tunde Sotunde, an executive with the health insurance company Anthem Inc., has been named the next president and CEO at Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina.

The state’s largest insurer has gone months without a permanent leader.

Sotunde will replace Patrick Conway, who resigned under pressure last year as he faced charges of driving while impaired and misdemeanor child abuse, The News & Observer reported.

Sotunde takes the leadership role as insurance companies face the rising cost of covering people sickened in the global coronavirus pandemic. He starts June 1.

“I’m honored to join Blue Cross NC. This is one of the premier health plans in the country and plays a leading role in addressing critical health issues,” Sotunde said in a statement.

“I’ll bring the perspective of a physician, a patient and health plan leader to our work alongside our employees every day to help make health care better, simpler and more affordable. Our work is even more critical at this time as we, together, face the challenges presented by COVID-19.”

According to his LinkedIn page, Sotunde was an administrator with the insurance company UnitedHealthcare and was president and CEO of Amerigroup Georgia before joining Anthem, where he is president of the Medicaid business unit.

Sotunde “has worked tirelessly and collaboratively across the health system to set new standards and reshape health care for the benefit of patients, customers and communities,” Blue Cross NC Board of Trustees Chairman Frank Holding, Jr., said in a statement.