DURHAM – Tunde Sotunde, a physician and a senior executive with health giant Anthem, will be the next chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
The health organization announced Sotunde as its choice on Monday morningto replace Patrick Conway who was forced to resign last October following his arrest and being charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving and two counts of misdemeanor child abuse in a June 22 incident on Interstate 85 in Randolph County.
“I’m honored to join Blue Cross NC. This is one of the premier health plans in the country and plays a leading role in addressing critical health issues,” said Dr. Sotunde. “I’ll bring the perspective of a physician, a patient and health plan leader to our work alongside our employees every day to help make health care better, simpler and more affordable. Our work is even more critical at this time as we, together, face the challenges presented by COVID-19. My family and I look forward to calling North Carolina home and serving its vibrant communities.”
Sotunde begins his new job June 1.
“Dr. Sotunde has a remarkable record of leadership and accomplishment as a physician, an educator, and a business leader,” said Blue Cross NC Board of Trustees Chair Frank Holding, Jr. in a statement. “He has worked tirelessly and collaboratively across the health system to set new standards and reshape health care for the benefit of patients, customers and communities.”
Sotunde, a pediatrician, currently is President, Medicaid Business Unit, of Anthem Inc.’s Government Business Division. He earlier servied as President and CEO of Anthem subsidiary Amerigroup Georgia.
A graduate of University of Ibadan College of Medicine in Nigeria (1988) and Howard University’s Hospital Residency Program in Pediatrics (1995). He completed his Executive MBA at the University of Memphis (2001) and studied health care management at the Wharton School of Business (2003), BCBS said in the announcement.
Sotunder is married with four children.
