Florida Blue parent Guidewell names Brian Pieninck as president and CEO

Jacksonville-based GuideWell Mutual Holding Corp., parent of Florida Blue, said Aug. 4 it appointed Brian Pieninck as president and CEO effective Oct. 1, succeeding the retiring Pat Geraghty.

Pieninck is president and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, which provides health insurance services in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Pieninck is also chair of the board of directors for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which includes Florida Blue and CareFirst.

"It is my pleasure to turn the reins over to Brian Pieninck, someone I have known and worked with on the BCBSA Board and for whom I have great admiration," Geraghty said in a news release.

Geraghty announced his retirement from GuideWell in March after 14 years, during which the not-for-profit company grew from an $8 billion health insurance company into a $32 billion one, GuideWell said.

GuideWell is the largest company headquartered in Jacksonville and was added to the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations this year at 136th with $32.955 billion in 2024 revenue, Fortune said.

Pieninck joined CareFirst in 2015 after 19 years with Aetna Inc., and became CEO of CareFirst in 2018.

"Brian is a seasoned, visionary health care leader with strong insurance operations and technology experience who shares GuideWell's values and commitment to helping people and communities achieve better health. He is well-equipped to lead GuideWell through the next phase of its evolution," GuideWell board Chair Thomas Kuntz said in the release.

Pieninck said in the release he looks forward "to working with the board, leadership, and our teammates to build on Pat's tremendous accomplishments as we advance our mission of helping people and communities achieve better health."