Heyward Donigan Named CEO of ValueOptions®
NORFOLK, Va – September 13, 2010
ValueOptions® Inc., the nation’s largest independent behavioral health care company, announced today that Heyward Donigan will succeed Barbara Hill as the company’s next Chief Executive Officer.
“I am very excited to take the helm at ValueOptions®,” Donigan said. “This company has an outstanding reputation among behavioral health care companies for its operational excellence in delivering customized programs to the people it serves. I look forward to joining the team.”
Since 2003, Donigan has served as Executive Vice President of Premera Blue Cross, the largest insurer in Washington and Alaska with more than $3 billion in annual revenue. While Donigan was at Premera, the company achieved record profit and membership levels during five of the past seven years. Prior to Premera, Donigan was the Senior Vice President of Service Operations at CIGNA Healthcare where she managed a staff of 12,000 associates and a budget of $850 million. Prior to that, she served as CIGNA’s President of the Southeast region. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in English and received her Master of Public Administration in Health Care Finance from New York University.
“I am proud of what we have achieved at ValueOptions®,” said Dr. Ronald I. Dozoretz, chairman of the board and founder of the company. “ValueOptions® is very excited to have Heyward Donigan lead this next chapter in the company's history.”
Robert J. Hurst, Managing Director of Crestview Partners, said, “We feel fortunate to add such a bright, thoughtful and energetic leader to the company, and we are confident that Heyward will drive the growth and future success of ValueOptions®.” Hurst added: “We also want to thank Barbara Hill for her outstanding contributions at ValueOptions® over the past five years and her keen focus on building the company's strong foundation. We wish her well in her new endeavors.”
Hill will continue as an advisor to the company until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition for the company's clients, members and employees.
About ValueOptions®, Inc.
ValueOptions®, the nation’s largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, manages publicly funded and employer benefit programs that cover 32 million individuals nationwide. Maintaining a national network of more than 127,000 provider locations, we partner with national and regional health plans to deliver superior behavioral health care management for their members. When working directly with employers, we are an industry leader, managing mental health and substance abuse services, employee assistance programs and a wide variety of wellness benefits for organizations of all sizes – including more than 10 percent of the Fortune 500. We also serve both military and civilian employees of the federal government with innovative programs that positively impact daily life. And, we hold public sector contracts in 14 states, providing care management services and an array of cutting-edge, community-based programs to Medicaid-eligible populations. At ValueOptions, we help our clients build a Culture of Health. We help members move down the path to wellness and embrace recovery and resiliency in their daily lives. We help people live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.
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