Colorado health-care exchange board names CEO finalist

The state health exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, has named veteran health-care executive Robert C. Malone as the finalist to fill the chief executive officer and executive director position.

The exchange’s Board of Directors on Wednesday unanimously named Malone to head the public nonprofit. Malone would replace Patty Fontneau, who left last year for a job as president of private exchange business for group health insurer Cigna.

Under state regulations, a formal process exists for selecting and hiring a CEO of the exchange. The board must post the name of the CEO finalist, allow the public to comment on the selection for two weeks and obtain approval from the Legislative Health Benefit Exchange Implementation Review Committee before formally offering and hiring for the post.

Malone brings nearly three decades of experience across the insurance, brokerage, claims and cost containment industries. As chief executive of claim resolution firm The Assist Group in Lakewood, Malone oversaw the acquisition of the business by health care information services firm Equian in January.

Before leading The Assist Group, Malone was a consultant for New York health insurance company MVP Healthcare.  His experience also includes serving as president and CEO of Premier Healthcare Exchange; senior vice president and COO, Global Specialty Division, for Willis North America; vice president of Direct/Group Sales and Marketing for insurer USI; executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Amalgamated Life Insurance Co., as well as president of its subsidiary, Alicare, Inc.

Malone has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the College of Staten Island.

Connect for Health Colorado Interim CEO Gary Drews, who did not seek the permanent position, will continue to serve the organization and help in the transition once a new CEO is hired.

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