CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) President and CEO Brian D. Pieninck, a leading health care executive responsible for ensuring equitable, affordable and accessible care to 3.5 million individuals and employers across Maryland, Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia, has been elected chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) Board of Directors, effective November 15, 2023.
As chair, Pieninck will assume leadership of the governing body that provides strategic guidance and oversight of BCBSA, a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies that collectively provide health care coverage to one in three Americans.
“I am thrilled to have Brian’s leadership as chair as we advance critical work already underway—like the expansion of our Federal Employees Program and scaling the Synergie Medication Collective—to provide accessible, affordable and equitable care to our members,” said Kim, BCBSA’s president and CEO. “Together, we are committed to advancing the collective success of our BCBS plans, ensuring a healthier future for the communities we serve.”
After holding key leadership positions at Aetna Inc. during a 19-year tenure, Pieninck joined CareFirst in 2015 and was appointed president and CEO in 2018 after a unanimous selection by the CareFirst Board.
“Becoming chair is an honor and a privilege, at an exciting time for the forward momentum of our vital work as a system,” said Pieninck. “In collaboration with industry leaders, we are committed to creating a personalized health care approach, one that is tailored to the unique needs of communities across the nation. I want to thank the board and BCBSA’s leadership for the confidence they’ve placed in me. This appointment represents a tremendous opportunity to further our shared vision of transforming health care to better meet the needs of the people we serve. Together, we will continue to advocate on behalf of more than 118 million people to improve the health and wellness of our local and national communities.”
In close alignment with CareFirst’s mission of promoting access to affordable and equitable care, Pieninck is heavily involved in his community, dedicating time to advancing opportunities at the intersection of health and well-being throughout.
Pieninck is proud to champion an array of health, economic and social interests. He is an active member of several local boards, including Federal Employee Program Board of Managers, Greater Baltimore Committee, Baltimore’s Promise, BCS Financial Corporation, Greater Washington Partnership, Synergie Medication Collective, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the United Way of the National Capital Area, and a member of the Morgan State University Board of Regents. Additionally, Pieninck is the Chairman of the Board for the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare.
Pieninck assumes the chair role from Tim Vines, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, who was elected in 2021.
“We are grateful to Tim for his outstanding service as chair over the last two years,” continued Keck. “He presided over key initiatives like the launch of the Synergie Medication Collective and our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America; and brought with him a keen perspective on how BCBS plans can come together to better serve our members.”
