Blue Cross Blue Shield N.C. Picks Pediatrician and Administrator Sotunde as New CEO | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal, and written by Julie Havlak.


    Blue Cross Blue Shield N.C. elected Dr. Tunde Sotunde as its president and CEO, starting June 1.

    Sotunde is the president of Anthem's Medicaid Business Unit, where he manages Athem's Medicaid program for 7.3 million members in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

    Sotunde began his career as a pediatrician. He was chief of pediatrics at Syracuse Community Health Center in Syracuse, New York, before studying health care management and transitioning into health insurance.

    A company news release issued Monday, March 30, highlighted Sotunde's push for value-based care, or the alternative payment structure that pays providers based on patient outcomes.

    "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," Sotunde said in a press release. "Our work is even more critical at this time as we, together, face the challenges presented by COVID-19."

    He replaces Dr. Patrick Conway, who resigned amid scandal last September. A video published on various media outlets showed his car weaving across lanes on Interstate 85 June 22 before the car ran into a tractor-trailer. His children were in the back seat. Conway has since been found guilty of driving while impaired and misdemeanor child abuse.

    Blue Cross N.C. trustees initially said in a letter they believed Conway was capable of continuing to "provide strong leadership," noting that he completed 30 days of rehabilitation after the accident. But the board asked for Conway's resignation in late September after State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey publicly blasted the board for a "cover-up."