Deborah Rice-Johnson wins 2019 Fox Rothschild Outstanding CEOs and Top Executives Award

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (April 18, 2019) — Deborah Rice-Johnson, president of Highmark Inc., has been selected by the Pittsburgh Business Times and Fox Rothschild as a winner of the 2019 Outstanding CEOs and Top Executives Award. This award recognizes leaders in western Pennsylvania who play a vital role in the success of their organization by creating a culture of customer service and employee engagement, while also demonstrating a commitment to serving the broader community.

Throughout her more than 30-year tenure at Highmark, Ms. Rice-Johnson has exhibited a commitment to getting health care right for members by advocating for high-quality, accessible, and affordable care. She is responsible for providing senior leadership and strategic direction for Highmark's core health insurance business, serving 5.3 million customers and managing more than $15 billion in revenue. Additionally, she has responsibility for product development, provider networks and reimbursement, clinical services, sales, and operations. Ms. Rice-Johnson is also responsible for Highmark's insurance-based subsidiaries: United Concordia Dental (UCD) and HM Insurance Group (HMIG).

Ms. Rice-Johnson has played a pivotal role in creating community-based care networks that bring high-quality, affordable, and convenient health care close to where people work and live. In western Pennsylvania, that includes a more than $1 billion investment to create access points and preserve choice in primary, specialty and emergency care. She has also helped to guide a more than $1 billion joint investment with Penn State Health to create a community-based care network in central Pennsylvania, and a clinical joint venture with Geisinger in northeastern Pennsylvania.

In addition to her leadership role at Highmark, Ms. Rice-Johnson serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Carlow University, the Duquesne Club, Blue Health Intelligence, and the Whitaker Center. She also serves as board chair of the Epilepsy Association of Western and Central Pennsylvania, and board president for Variety the Children's Charity.

"It has been my privilege to work for Highmark as we have transformed into an integrated system that is aligned to create a higher-quality, seamless experience for our customers at every touch point," Ms. Rice-Johnson said. "I am honored, and humbled, to receive this award on behalf of all the Highmark team members who help to create a remarkable health experience for our customers."