Diplomat names new CEO
Diplomat has new leadership. The Flint, Mich.-based company on Thursday named Brian Griffin CEO and chairman, effective June 4. Griffin will join the company from Anthem, where is executive vice president and CEO of the insurer's pharmacy benefits manager IngenioRx.
Griffin was appointed to lead IngenioRx in March, tasked with building it up to launch its PBM solutions starting in 2020. Before that, he was executive vice president and president of Anthem’s commercial and specialty division. He joined Anthem in 2012 as president and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, its second-largest affiliated division, a role he held for two years. Prior to his experience at Empire BlueCross BlueShield, he was at Medco Health Solutions from 1987 to August 2012, holding various roles of increasing responsibility, including president of international and subsidiaries of Express Scripts, which merged with Medco Health Solutions in April 2012.
Diplomat chairman Ben Wolin said that Griffin’s experience uniquely suits him for the job of leading Diplomat, which recently launched its PBM division, CastiaRx, adding its services — which brought in $191 million in Diplomat’s Q1 — alongside its specialty pharmacy business. Wolin also noted that his health plan experience will play a role in helping Diplomat evolve with the healthcare landscape.
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Brian Griffin[/caption]
“Brian is a proven healthcare executive having served in various leadership roles for many years, including at Express Scripts, Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Anthem, most recently launching its PBM organization,” Wolin said. “He brings expertise in areas essential to Diplomat's continued growth and success, including a tremendous knowledge of the PBM and specialty pharmacy industries and a deep understanding of the complexities and trends shaping the healthcare environment.”
Diplomat CFO Atul Kavthekar has temporarily assumed the role of interim CEO alongside his other duties until Griffin’s appointment is effective. With Griffin’s appointment, Diplomat’s board will expand to eight members, at which time Wolin will resume his role as independent lead director.
“This is a time of great opportunity for Diplomat, and I have long admired the company and its innovative approach to driving better health outcomes,” Griffin said. “Following years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry, I feel both ready and honored to take on the roles of CEO and chairman of Diplomat. Together with the board and management team, I look forward to furthering Diplomat's growth strategy as we enhance value for shareholders and help enable increased benefits for physicians, pharma, payers and patients.”
Griffin was appointed to lead IngenioRx in March, tasked with building it up to launch its PBM solutions starting in 2020. Before that, he was executive vice president and president of Anthem’s commercial and specialty division. He joined Anthem in 2012 as president and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, its second-largest affiliated division, a role he held for two years. Prior to his experience at Empire BlueCross BlueShield, he was at Medco Health Solutions from 1987 to August 2012, holding various roles of increasing responsibility, including president of international and subsidiaries of Express Scripts, which merged with Medco Health Solutions in April 2012.
Diplomat chairman Ben Wolin said that Griffin’s experience uniquely suits him for the job of leading Diplomat, which recently launched its PBM division, CastiaRx, adding its services — which brought in $191 million in Diplomat’s Q1 — alongside its specialty pharmacy business. Wolin also noted that his health plan experience will play a role in helping Diplomat evolve with the healthcare landscape.
[caption id="attachment_587569" align="alignright" width="150"]
Brian Griffin[/caption]“Brian is a proven healthcare executive having served in various leadership roles for many years, including at Express Scripts, Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Anthem, most recently launching its PBM organization,” Wolin said. “He brings expertise in areas essential to Diplomat's continued growth and success, including a tremendous knowledge of the PBM and specialty pharmacy industries and a deep understanding of the complexities and trends shaping the healthcare environment.”
Diplomat CFO Atul Kavthekar has temporarily assumed the role of interim CEO alongside his other duties until Griffin’s appointment is effective. With Griffin’s appointment, Diplomat’s board will expand to eight members, at which time Wolin will resume his role as independent lead director.
“This is a time of great opportunity for Diplomat, and I have long admired the company and its innovative approach to driving better health outcomes,” Griffin said. “Following years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry, I feel both ready and honored to take on the roles of CEO and chairman of Diplomat. Together with the board and management team, I look forward to furthering Diplomat's growth strategy as we enhance value for shareholders and help enable increased benefits for physicians, pharma, payers and patients.”