Anthem Virginia president to retire

Jeff Ricketts, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia, will retire in September after nearly 40 years with the health insurance company, Anthem announced Friday.

Ricketts has served as leader of Anthem’s operations in Virginia for the past five years. He joined Anthem in 1984 as a sales account representative and climbed the ranks, holding leadership positions within the company. He has been instrumental in expanding Anthem’s coverage across Virginia and maintained the health plan as it became the largest in the state, according to Anthem.

“It has truly been a privilege and an honor to lead this great company over the last five years in a state that has always been my home,” Ricketts said in a statement. “I have seen a lot of change in my career, but one thing that has remained constant is the commitment I’ve seen in our associates in Virginia to take care of their communities and fulfill our purpose to improve the health of humanity.”

In addition to his role at Anthem, he has served on numerous boards, including ChamberRVA, March of Dimes’ Virginia State Board, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Venture Richmond, Virginia Association of Health Plans, the Virginia Center for Health Innovation and Virginia Learns. He is a member of the Virginia Business Council, Management Roundtable, Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates and is the co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force for Primary Care.

“I want to thank Jeff for his unwavering dedication to improving the health of the people in Virginia,” Kurt Small, president of Anthem’s eastern region commercial business, said in a statement. “His work will serve as a foundation for our continued commitment to address the health care needs of Virginia. We will miss Jeff and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

His successor has not been named.