Van Berkem named senior vice president, human resources, WellPoint Health Networks Inc

Business Wire, April 25, 1997

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 25, 1997--

Change management leader appointed to top HR position as WellPoint

continues expansion throughout nation

J. Thomas Van Berkem has been named senior vice president, human resources for WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (NYSE:WLP).

Van Berkem will oversee the human resources function including employee relations, recruiting, compensation, organization development and strategic planning.

"Tom brings 20 years of senior management experience to this position," said Leonard Schaeffer, WellPoint chairman and CEO. "He comes to us from the world's largest direct marketing company, ADVO Inc., an NYSE $1 billion company based in Connecticut, where he served as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. His expertise in `change management' will assist WellPoint in our transition to a national managed health care leader."

As the head of ADVO's human resources division since 1989, Van Berkem was responsible for 20 production facilities, 70 sales offices and up to 10,000 full time and contract employees in 45 states.

Van Berkem assisted in ADVO's financial turn-around, accomplished a complete rebuilding and restructuring of the HR division, and made the human resources function a vital partner in making the company more profitable. His accomplishments included establishing innovative recruiting efforts, employee leasing, and a restructuring of the company.

Prior to ADVO, Van Berkem served as senior vice president of HR for Hibernia Bancshares Corp. in San Francisco; management consultant with Occidental Consulting Group; and vice president, training and development, Crocker National Bank. He started his career as a labor relations field representative for the National Electric Contractors Association in New Orleans, and worked for Whirlpool Corp. and Clark Equipment Co.

WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed care companies, serves the health care needs of more than 5.8 million medical and more than 21 million specialty members nationally through two principal operating subsidiaries: Blue Cross of California in California, and UNICARE throughout other parts of the country.

Based in Woodland Hills, WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network health plans provided through its health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and specialty managed care networks.

Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, Medicare supplements, and 24-hour integrated, network-based workers' compensation coverage.

CONTACT: WellPoint Health Networks Inc., Woodland Hills

Peter O'Neill, 818/703-2922