|
Milwaukee, WI – Assurant Health, a national leader in individual medical, health savings accounts, small group and specialty health insurance products, announced that it has introduced several organizational changes in support of its long-term growth objectives.
Structurally, Assurant Health will create two distinct business areas. One area will focus on current business operations and will be aligned under a chief operating officer. A second area will focus on emerging new market and growth opportunities aligned under a senior vice president of strategic development.
Don Hamm, Assurant Health’s president and chief executive officer said: “The medical insurance marketplace is dynamic and constantly evolving. Integrating our small group and individual medical resources and creating a dedicated structure to support our development activities improves our operational effectiveness. We believe it will enhance our ability to meet and exceed the needs of our business partners and customers while delivering value to our shareholders.”
To support the structural enhancements, Assurant Health announced several key leadership appointments and promotions.
Rajeev Bal, currently executive vice president, Individual Medical Markets, has been named chief operating officer. In his new role, Bal will oversee Assurant Health’s current individual medical, small group, specialty and emerging worksite businesses as well as the sales, actuarial, administration and underwriting functions. Bal and his team will also be responsible for marketing and networks.
Bal joined Assurant Health in 1999 as a vice president in small group product management and later was named vice president, specialty products. In his most recent role, Bal was responsible for sales, marketing, distribution and underwriting of individual medical, short term medical, student select and other specialty health insurance products. After starting his career at Procter & Gamble, Bal served as President and co-CEO of Zeta Consumer Products from 1993 to 1998 and was President of Webster Industries form 1987 to 1993. He holds a B.A. in economics from Loyola College in India and an M.B.A. from the University of Manitoba. He is a board member of the Heartland Institute in Chicago and the Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee.
Mike Kellen, currently senior vice president, group markets, has been named senior vice president, strategic development. In this new capacity, Kellen will oversee a more robust development area within Assurant Health to capitalize on unique opportunities for long-term profitable growth. Kellen and his team will focus on the company’s Voluntary Mart suite of products, finding additional market adjacencies, mergers and acquisitions, as well as the exploration and testing of other new market opportunities.
Prior to joining Assurant in 1999, Kellen spent over 20 years with Northwestern Mutual, Washington National and Mutual of Omaha. Experiences included block acquisitions and business start-ups in Japan and the UK in addition to individual and small group health actuarial and product line activities in the United States. He has been an active participant in the small group rating and access reform debate since its inception and has been active in speaking with industry groups, as well as state and federal legislators and regulators on these and related issues.
Debbie Kramer, currently senior vice president, human resources, has been named senior vice president, marketing. Reporting to Raj Bal, Kramer will lead the marketing research, marketing services, public relations and direct-to-consumer/direct sales center for Assurant Health. Kramer has been instrumental in leading Assurant Health’s consumer marketing efforts and was formerly vice president of marketing and strategy implementation for Fortis Financial Group, a former sister company. Prior to joining Assurant Health, Debbie served as senior vice president, organizational development, for Assurant Solutions.
Kramer holds a B.S. in accounting (with distinction) from Indiana University and has participated in a number of mini-master's degree programs at institutions such as Stanford University and Wharton. She is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Employee Benefits Specialist, as well as a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society.
Jim Oatman, currently senior vice president and chief actuary, individual markets, has been named chief actuary. Reporting to Raj Bal, Oatman will lead a newly integrated actuarial function. Oatman joined Assurant Health in 1985 and has held a variety of executive positions. He is chairman of the AHIP (Association of Health Insurance Plans) Individual Insurance Committee.
Before joining Assurant Health, Oatman worked in the insurance industry in Canada. He holds a master's degree from McMaster University and a bachelor's degree in math from the University of Waterloo. He is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and holds the FCIA (Fellow, Canadian Institute of Actuaries), FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute) and HIA (Health Insurance Associate) insurance industry designations. Active in the community, Oatman is a board member of the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, where he serves as the head of the Human Resources committee, and is also a member of the Salvation Army board.
Concurrent with these appointments, Assurant Health also announced the following promotions:
Jack Rogers, currently vice president, Health Alliances, has been promoted to senior vice president – Network Management. Reporting to Raj Bal, Rogers will lead Assurant Health’s PPO and managed care network relationship function integrating traditional, direct and new network arrangements into product design and pricing. Rogers was instrumental in the company’s 2006 sale of its stake in Private Health Care Systems, Inc., a preferred provider organization.
Scott Krienke, currently vice president, Individual Medical, has been promoted to senior vice president and chair of Assurant Health’s Individual Markets business board. Krienke joined Assurant Health in 1984 and has held a number of senior level positions with the company, including running its claims and customer service divisions. Scott has been instrumental in developing the company's current product portfolio and has led in the development and marketing of its Health Savings Account (HSA) product offering.
Hamm added: “These appointments and promotions reflect the strength of Assurant Health’s management team and demonstrate our commitment to leadership development. We also believe this new structure will provide exciting new growth opportunities for our employees.”
Assurant Health is a part of Assurant and has been in business since 1892. It is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by Time Insurance Company, John Alden Life Insurance Company and Union Security Insurance Company. Together, these three underwriting companies provide health insurance coverage for more than one million people nationwide. Each underwriting company is financially responsible for its own insurance products. Primary products include individual medical, small group, short-term and student health insurance products, consumer-choice products such as Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements, as well as non-insurance products. With almost 3,000 employees, Assurant Health is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., and has operations offices in Minnesota, Idaho and Florida, as well as sales offices across the country. The Assurant Health Web site is www.assuranthealth.com.
|
|