Monica Schmude Named President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia

Industry veteran with strong healthcare background, focus on communities

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anthem announced today that Monica Schmude has been named President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia.

“Monica brings a commitment to fulfilling our mission of improving the lives and communities we serve across the state,” said Kurt C. Small, President, East Region, for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “She has an in-depth knowledge of the health care industry and recognizes the importance of supporting and enhancing the whole health of a person. Monica is a proven leader who understands the specific needs of our members, employer customers and provider partners here in Virginia.”

Schmude spent the last 13 years at Cigna, successfully holding several leadership and executive positions. Among other responsibilities, she served as Cigna’s president of its mid-Atlantic market, which covered Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Prior to leading the mid-Atlantic market, Cigna’s second-largest commercial market, Schmude was president of Cigna’s Pennsylvania-Delaware-West Virginia-Ohio market, growing the company’s presence in that area. She has a proven track record of nearly 30 years of industry experience with increasing responsibilities for leadership and growth.

“I’m honored to be asked to lead Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, a place I call home and know so well,” said Schmude. “We have a talented, dedicated team in Virginia focused on innovation and collaboration in order to bring greater affordability and better health outcomes for the people and businesses we serve. I look forward to working with the team to continue and further those efforts.”

Schmude replaces Jeff Ricketts, who recently retired from Anthem in September after many years of service to the company.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia

Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Elevance Health. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield.