Brian A. Sassi is president and CEO of the Consumer Business Unit for WellPoint, Inc. Appointed to this role in January 2008, Mr. Sassi is responsible for the company’s Senior, State Sponsored, and Individual-Under-65 businesses. Prior to his role as president and CEO of Consumer Business, Mr. Sassi was president of Blue Cross of California (Blue Cross) and chief executive officer of its BC Life & Health affiliate. In this role, Mr. Sassi was responsible for the development of BCC’s long-term strategic direction and for health plan management that included product and service innovation, underwriting and sales, as well as client and broker relations for both small and large group health coverage. Mr. Sassi has held a series of positions with increasing responsibility since joining Blue Cross in 1989. Prior roles include vice president of operations and strategic initiatives, and general manager of small group accounts for the west region of BCC’s parent company, WellPoint, Inc. Before that, Mr. Sassi’s Blue Cross service included general manager of key large group accounts, as well as holding a variety of operations and management positions. Mr. Sassi’s accomplishments with Blue Cross include significantly growing the 51-250 large group business segment and the small group business segment; the development and implementation of the BeneFits product portfolio; reaching out to uninsured small businesses; and the development and implementation of mybcclink - an Internet-based membership system for group administrators. Prior to joining Blue Cross of California, Mr. Sassi held management positions with Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company and Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Co. In addition, Mr. Sassi spent three and a half years with Blue Cross of Washington/Alaska as vice president of operations, where he oversaw the implementation of a state-of-the-art call center and modernized the associate training programs. Mr. Sassi earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI), and a member of the California Business Roundtable. His community service includes service on the Board of Directors for the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Association of Health Plans (CAHP).