Longtime Medica CEO David Tilford retired after 16 years at the Minnetonka, Minn.-based payer.
Here are five things to know about the executive move.
1. John Naylor, senior vice president of Medica's commercial markets division, will succeed Mr. Tilford immediately as CEO. Mr. Tilford will assist in the transition process through the end of January.
2. Mr. Tilford was Medica's first permanent CEO as an independent company after its separation from Minneapolis-based Allina Health in 2001. He helped grow the company's products and expansion into several Midwest states.
3. Mr. Naylor joined Medica in April 2010 and has led the commercial markets division for more than four years. He has more than 30 years of industry experience and previously worked for Willis Towers Watson for 21 years.
4. Following Mr. Naylor's promotion, Medica promoted Paul Crowley to vice president and general manager of commercial markets effective immediately. Mr. Crowley joined the insurer in August 2013 as vice president and general manager within the commercial markets business unit.
5. Mr. Crowley has more than 17 years of healthcare experience. He previously worked in the Chicago office of Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna as vice president and national account sales leader. Prior to Cigna, Mr. Crowley held consulting positions in the Boston offices of Aon Hewitt and Willis Towers Watson.