July 30--The CEO of the parent of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois will retire at the end of the year, the company said Thursday.
Patricia Hemingway Hall will be succeeded by Paula Steiner, chief strategy officer, said a spokeswoman at Chicago-based Health Care Service.
Hall, 62, has been with Health Care Service for 23 years, the last seven as CEO. The company, which offers Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in five states, including Illinois, is the nation's fourth-largest health insurer with nearly 16 million members.
"Given her experience, her tenacity to solve tough issues and her ability to lead people, Pat has been the ideal CEO to navigate this company so successfully through the twists and turns of our industry over the last several years," Milton Carroll, chairman of Health Care Service, said in a statement.
Steiner, 58, will become president immediately and CEO on Jan. 1. She has been with the company since 1997.
Health Care Service is a mutual company owned by policyholders.
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