Anthem Blue Cross of California hired a former Aetna executive as its new president, the Woodland Hills-based insurer announced. Pam Kehaly will serve as president and general manager of the company starting on Aug. 30, taking the place of Leslie Margolin, who resigned July 20. Kehaly will be responsible for the management of all local group health insurance business in California, including sales, account service, marketing, underwriting, product delivery and maintenance of customer relationships. She will also be responsible for developing Anthem Blue Cross’ long-term strategic direction and collaborating with local and state elected officials on healthcare issues. “Pam has proven a record of delivering results,” said Ken Goulet, president and CEO of commercial business for WellPoint, Inc., Anthem’s parent company. Kehaly has nearly 25 years of health insurance industry experience. She most recently served as president of national accounts at insurance company Aetna. Before that, she led Aetna’s West Region National Accounts division. Kehaly has also worked in a variety of sales and operations leadership positions in WellPoint’s California market. She is a board member of Adaptive Business Leaders and of Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Los Angeles division. The leadership change comes after Anthem received federal criticism for attempting to increase its rates by up to 39 percent, with an average increase of 25 percent. The company pulled the plan in April after mathematical errors were discovered. In June, it submitted a new plan that proposed a 14 percent average rate hike. WellPoint officials said last week that Margolin resigned to purse another healthcare venture. Jessica Selva
