Head of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois parent company exiting

Jul. 24--The leader of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois' parent company is departing, the company announced Wednesday.

Health Care Service Corporation President and CEO Paula Steiner is exiting after heading the Chicago-based company since 2016.

"Paula led the company through significant industry change and oversaw our continued diversification and steady growth," said spokesman Greg Thompson, in an email. "The company is strong and well positioned for the future. The board decided now is the appropriate time for a leadership change."

He did not provide additional details.

An attempt to reach Steiner was not immediately successful Wednesday afternoon.

A person with knowledge of the situation said there may have been a difference of opinion between Steiner and the board about strategy and vision.

Board member and former energy executive David J. Lesar will serve as interim CEO, and Maurice Smith, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, was named the company's president.

Health Care Service Corporation operates health insurance plans in five states, including Illinois where its Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the state's dominant health insurer. The company has more than 8.5 million members and more than 11,000 employees in Illinois.

Last year, Health Care Service Corporation made a profit of $4.1 billion, which included $1.7 billion the company got back from the federal government because of changes made under the new tax law.

"Paula led the company through significant industry change and oversaw our continued diversification and steady growth," said Milton Carroll, board chairman. "We are grateful to Paula for her many years of leadership and service to HCSC and our 16 million members, and we wish her well in future endeavors."

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