Bertolini Letter to Employees Offers Glimpse of a Transformed Aetna

June 03--In his first statement about Aetna's plans to relocate its corporate headquarters, CEO Mark T. Bertolini on Friday foreshadowed the coming transformation of an insurance company that has been in Hartford for more than 160 years.

"Our headquarters relocation project represents an exciting opportunity for us to create a renewed energy around our transformation into a health company," Bertolini wrote employees in a letter obtained by The Courant. "Our strategy is to continue to grow in the digital space and bring new innovations to market, requiring us to expand our access to talent for the knowledge economy."

The knowledge economy is broadly defined as the business of technology, science and digital data. Bertolini said as Aetna seeks to "bring new innovations to market," the new headquarters "will be emblematic of the type of environments we want to create at all of our major locations in the future."

Known for his yoga and meditation, Bertolini has increasingly sought to push Aetna in new directions, pursuing mergers, improving wages for employees and lately suggesting it was time for a national debate about a single-payer health care system. Aetna, which generated $2.27 billion in profit last year, has said it will no longer sell policies under the Affordable Care Act.

Bertolini has told investors he'd like to extend Aetna's reach deeper into a patient's life to help solve health care problems. He said Aetna ultimately would like to be like Amazon and essentially provide logistics or support to help people figure out what they need to be happy and healthy and to get any chronic conditions under control.

The shift of a few hundred workers out of Hartford and the addition of new employees at a new location would have "minimal impact" on the Hartford offices, Bertolini wrote. A spokesman for Aetna confirmed the note was shared Friday with employees.

The company's proposed $34 billion merger with Humana collapsed earlier this year after a federal judge rejected the deal. The idea of moving its Hartford headquarters first surfaced early last year during the Humana merger discussions.

Aetna said Wednesday it hopes to have an agreement by summer to relocate its corporate headquarters and top executives. Most of the company's 5,800 jobs in Connecticut are expected to remain, however.

Bertolini said Aetna is committed to the Hartford community, with several business units continuing to be based in the state.

"The state of Connecticut and the city of Hartford face significant economic challenges and we hope that our political leaders will come together and make a long-term commitment to make our state vibrant once again," he said.

Bertolini and the CEOs of two other major insurance companies -- Christopher J. Swift of The Hartford and Alan D. Schnitzer of Travelers Cos. Inc. -- in March pledged donations of $50 million over five years to Hartford, giving the city a financial and psychological boost.

Mayor Luke Bronin said Wednesday there's no indication that will change with Aetna's move.

Bertolini said the Aetna Foundation, Aetna and employees contributed more than $6 million last year in grants, sponsorships and contributions to the Hartford community.

A report from the Associated Press was included in this story.

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