Anthem taps new Virginia president

Monica Schmude has been named president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, the health care insurer announced Wednesday. She was previously president of Cigna’s mid-Atlantic market.

“Monica brings a commitment to fulfilling our mission of improving the lives and communities we serve across the state,” Kurt C. Small, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s east region, said in a statement. “She has an in-depth knowledge of the health care industry and recognizes the importance of supporting and enhancing the whole health of a person. Monica is a proven leader who understands the specific needs of our members, employer customers and provider partners here in Virginia.”

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Schmude held several executive positions over the past 13 years at Cigna, including leading the mid-Atlantic market, which includes Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and as president of Cigna’s Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and Ohio market. She’s spent nearly 30 years in the health insurance industry and replaces Jeff Ricketts, who retired as Anthem’s Virginia president in September 2022.

Outside of work, Schmude is a board member for the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, as well as a founding member of the Champions for Children network at the Lourie Center for Children’s Social & Emotional Wellness in Rockville, Maryland.

“I’m honored to be asked to lead Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, a place I call home and know so well,” Schmude said. “We have a talented, dedicated team in Virginia focused on innovation and collaboration in order to bring greater affordability and better health outcomes for the people and businesses we serve. I look forward to working with the team to continue and further those efforts.”

Anthem’s Virginia service area includes the whole state with the exception of Fairfax city, Vienna and the area east of state Route 123.