America's Benefit Specialist May 2023

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Monica Schmude has been named presi dent, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia. Schmude spent the last 13 years at Cigna, holding several leadership and

The team joins CEO and President Matthew Herman, who previously served as chief executive officer of Health Benefits Group Inc., and chief operating officer Michael Lagalante, who served as head of business development at Federal Life Insurance Company. Alliant Insurance Services has announced some key hires: Sarah Rizzo has joined Alliant as vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Kansas City, Kansas, Rizzo has a diverse background in business development, consult ing, and plan design. Prior to joining Alliant, Rizzo was a vice president and unit leader with a national insurance broker age and consulting firm. Rizzo earned her bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. Chris McCarthy has joined Alliant as senior vice presi dent within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, McCarthy will work with a broad range of clients, designing and delivering strategic employee benefits solutions that reduce healthcare costs, increase productivity, and provide long-term financial sustainability. McCarthy has more than 20 years of experience in the field of employee benefits consulting serving a national client base that spans a breadth of industries. Prior to joining Alliant, McCarthy was a partner at a global employee benefit consulting firm. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Villanova University. Andy Nebens has joined Alliant as senior vice president with in its Employee Benefits Group. Based in New York, Nebens will focus on maintaining high levels of client engagement, enhancing existing partnerships, and developing new and innovative business relationships. An attorney with over 30 years of experience in the benefits arena, Nebens has worked as assistant general counsel for compensation and benefits for two of the world’s largest consumer package goods com panies as well as serving as global head of compensation and benefits with one of the world’s leading providers of tech nology, communications, information and entertainment products. Nebens earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from The Fordham University School of Law. Bev Gregory has joined Alliant as senior vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in San Diego, Gregory will focus on designing, implementing, and managing employee benefits solutions for a national client base. Gregory has more than three decades of industry experience, with a focus on life science, technology, and nonprofit clients with domestic and international operations. She is dual-licensed in employee benefits and property and casualty insurance. Gregory has been recognized in the industry as a Power Broker by Risk & Insurance for her outstanding benefits knowledge and un wavering customer focus among the broker community. Prior to joining Alliant, Gregory was the director of benefits for a

executive positions. Among other responsi bilities, she served as Cigna’s president of its mid-Atlantic market, which covered Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. Prior to

leading the mid-Atlantic market, Cigna’s second-largest commercial market, Schmude was president of Cigna’s Pennsylvania-Delaware-West Virginia-Ohio market, growing the company’s presence in that area. She has a track record of nearly 30 years of industry experience with increasing responsibilities for leadership and growth. Schmude replaces Jeff Ricketts, who retired from Anthem in September after many years of service to the company.

Savoy has announced the promotion of Denise Rugel to the position of president. In her new role, Rugel will continue to use her innovative leadership skills and strategic drive to facilitate effective collaboration with Savoy’s broker and carrier partners. Rugel has over 20 years of experience as a coach, consultant and human capital leader.

She initially joined Savoy as head of the human resources function in 2018 and most recently served as chief operating officer. CEO Don Savoy will continue to work closely with De nise Rugel with a strong focus on revenue growth, business development and new market expansion opportunities. Rugel holds an undergraduate degree in business admin istration from William Paterson University, a Professional of Human Resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute through Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Certified Professional Coach certification from the Insti tute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Rugel is fluent in both English and Spanish. Enhance Health, a digital health insurance brokerage and care-navigation platform, recently added health insurance veterans to steer the organization. The new executive hires bring experience from leading insurance brands and include: Larry Cassar , senior vice president of sales, previously chief agency sales officer at Centene (Ambetter Wellcare) Tracy Faigin , chief marketing officer, previously CMO at Friday Health Plans Richard Gross , senior vice president member services, previ ously senior director of UnitedHealth Group/OptumRx Frank Pistone , vice president, field sales, previously regional vice president at Humana

18 ABS | benefitspecialistmagazine.com