Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

Sherry Cladouhos, the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, announced that she is retiring after 36 years of working for the company.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Board of Directors announced President Mike Frank will be taking Cladouhos' position.

"Over 36 years, I have worked with the most talented, compassionate and dedicated people with whom I can ever imagine serving. I am proud to have helped build this great company that continues to play a vital role in making Montana such a great place for us to live and raise our families," Cladouhos wrote in a notice to her employees.

Cladouhos is one Montana's most prominent business women, serving as CEO of Montana's largest health insurance company for five years after 31 years of working her way up. She noted, "Working hard surely helps, and wanting to try and do new things in a company. I had the opportunity to be in a lot of different departments and really learned the business from the ground up."

"As I pass the torch, I am passing a major responsibility to Montanans to Mike. I know that Mike has the capability and will take that responsibility seriously," Cladouhos remarked.

She is leaving Blue Cross Blue Shield at a very interesting time, just as the federal health reform changes are taking place.

The decision is a personal one, she said, adding, "Decided it was time to spend more time with my family, my children, and our grandchildren."

Sherry says she is confident Mike Frank will be able to carry the company forward; Frank has worked as an attorney and been employed by Blue Cross for 11 years.

Frank said, "It is a great opportunity. I am not sure that anybody can fill Sherry's shoes. Fortunately, as Sherry mentioned, we have been able to work together for the last 11 years and I have had a great teacher and mentor."

Frank says he will be ready to take the reins by the end of the year, adding, "We have time to make it a smooth transition; as we look forward to the end of the year, we will continue to work together to make sure that we really have all of our bases covered and we really are there for Montana."