Blue Cross names new permanent president
PROVIDENCE, R.I. The state's largest health insurer has named its new president and C-E-O. James Purcell of Barrington has been leading Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island as acting president since May, when Ron Battista resigned following scrutiny of executive perks and other financial practices.
Blue Cross' board has set Purcell's salary at 500-thousand dollars annually. Battista had earned more than a half-million dollars a year in salary, and left the company with a severance package worth more than three-point-one (m) million dollars.
The company says Purcell was selected following a national search conducted for the first time by a professional search firm.
Prior to taking over as acting president, Purcell served as Blue Cross' chief operating officer and executive vice president.
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