Capital BlueCross board confirms Shamash as president and CEO

Three days into his time as acting CEO at Capital BlueCross, Todd Shamash was promoted to the company’s top leadership role as its permanent president and CEO.

The Harrisburg-based insurer announced in February that Gary St. Hilaire, its president and CEO for eight years, would be leaving the company to lead Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Shamash, formerly the company’s senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, accepted a role as the company’s interim CEO as it continued to search for someone to permanently fill St. Hilaire’s position.

On Wednesday the company announced that its board voted to make Shamash its permanent president and CEO and to conclude its two-month candidate search and evaluation process.

“Our need for a trusted, committed visionary and strong leader has been dramatically reinforced with the recent events across the globe,” Kathryn P. Taylor, chairman of the Capital BlueCross Board. “We have worked with Todd for many years and know him to be the best person to guide the Capital BlueCross family of companies through this unprecedented health emergency and beyond.”

Prior to joining Capital BlueCross, Shamash worked throughout the health care industry as a deputy chief of staff for the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office where he oversaw all health-related agencies, and senior counsel for Jefferson Health System.

He has also been a trustee on the Pennsylvania Employee Benefits Trust Fund, a commissioner of the Pennsylvania Banking and Securities Commission and department counsel for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

“I am humbled and proud to serve on behalf of our Board of Directors, my colleagues and all of our talented and committed teams,” Shamash said. “This is a remarkable time, in our industry, in our world – and Capital BlueCross will be remembered for doing the right thing for our members in central Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley, and across the nation in this moment and for the long term. Our role as an independent, community-focused health plan has never been more important.”