Larry Glasscock to Retire as WellPoint Chairman

Indianapolis-based WellPoint announced today that Larry C. Glasscock, chairman of the company's board of directors, is set to retire on March 1, 2010. Angela F. Braly, the insurer's president and CEO, will replace the 61-year-old Glasscock as the board's chair.

Glasscock has served as chairman of the board at WellPoint since November 2005 and was the carrier's president and CEO from 1999 to 2007. "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this great company in various capacities over the past 11 years," Glasscock said in a press release. "At this point, my work here is accomplished and there is one individual most capable of leading WellPoint into the future: Angela Braly. Angela is a leader of outstanding talent, dedication and vision. I wish her, and all the men and women of WellPoint, the best of success."

The 48-year-old Braly replaced Glasscock as CEO in 2007. Prior to that, she served as an executive vice president with operational responsibility for WellPoint's Medicare claims processing business, federal employees' health benefits business, public policy development, government relations, legal affairs, marketing, and social responsibility initiatives.

"The health care landscape in the United States is rapidly changing, and WellPoint is uniquely positioned to bring ever-greater value to our customers and to help lead our nation's health care system to a better place. It has been, and continues to be, my honor to lead WellPoint's outstanding team, and I am excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to chair WellPoint's dedicated board" Braly said in the press release. "I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Larry Glasscock for his dedicated leadership under which the company grew to the nation's largest health benefits company, and for the advice, guidance and support he has given me and the board during his distinguished tenure."