Blue Cross CEO going to Aetna

• Advocate business staff
• Published: Aug 11, 2008 - UPDATED: 3:37 p.m.

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Gery Barry, president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, has resigned to become chief strategy officer of Aetna Inc.

Blue Cross’s board plans to launch a national search for a new chief executive. Barry will continue working with the company for a few weeks to help with the transition.

Barry began his career with Aetna and worked there for 21 years before taking CEO jobs with Liberty Health, formerly Ontario (Canada) Blue Cross, and then Blue Cross here in November 2004. Barry will guide Aetna’s domestic and international strategy and will work to shape health-care policy at the national level.

A Blue Cross press release said the company’s board accepted Barry’s resignation “with great reluctance.”

“Speaking on behalf of the entire board, we’re very sorry to see Gery go,” Brent McCoy, board chairman, said in a prepared statement.

McCoy said Barry has done a remarkable job for the state’s largest health insurer. He leaves Blue Cross, with its 1.1 million members, stronger than it has ever been on every level, McCoy said.

“He has also made a great contribution to the state of Louisiana, providing outstanding leadership in health-care during and after Katrina, and working tirelessly to establish a better health-care system for all people of Louisiana,” McCoy said.

Barry said the decision was difficult despite the attractiveness of his new job.

“My experience here in Louisiana and with Blue Cross has been deeply rewarding in every respect. Of course, the best part has been all the great people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, both within the company and throughout the state,” Barry said in a prepared statement. “It has been a particular privilege to work with our board, our extraordinarily talented and committed staff at Blue Cross, and so many others.”