Vicky Gregg to retire from BlueCross BlueShield

Leaders announced Saturday that, after years of leading BlueCross BlueShield, CEO Vicky Gregg will retire, effective Dec. 31.

“Under her leadership our membership and service capabilities have grown significantly, further advancing our position as the state’s trusted leader in health care coverage,” Lamar Partridge, chairman of the board for BlueCross, said in a prepared statement. “Her commitment to this 10-month leadership transition illustrates thoughtful consideration for the future of this valued organization.”


COO Bill Gracey will replace Gregg. 

In his new role, effective Jan. 1, 2013, Gracey will assume responsibility for all aspects of BlueCross activities.

He will oversee the company’s strategic direction, with the goals of successfully transitioning to full implementation of the new health care reform law and addressing members’ needs for affordable, quality health care coverage.

"Over the past year and a half, Bill and I have worked to forge a strategy for moving the company forward in this quickly evolving health care landscape,” Gregg said. “Bill’s depth of health care industry experience and unique grasp of market dynamics will be a great asset to our members and the company as we navigate the future.”


Gracey said he was honored to be chosen as the new BCBS leader.


“I’m excited to work with them and the 5,300 dedicated employees at BlueCross to continue our mission of delivering affordable solutions for health and healing, life and living,” he also said in a prepared statement.


Prior to joining BlueCross as COO, Gracey spent most of his 35-year career as a leader in the health care industry in Tennessee.

Most recently, he was executive vice president and COO of Nashville-based Lifepoint Hospitals, a 52-hospital system with 23,000 employees and 2,500 physicians in 17 states.