The Access Health CT Board of Directors unanimously appointed James R. Wadleigh Jr. as interim CEO of Connecticut’s insurance exchange on Wednesday.
The news comes just one day after Access Health CT CEO Kevin Counihan announced he had been recruited by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell to help run healthcare.gov.
Wadleigh, chief information officer for Access Health CT, was one of three candidates the board considered during their closed-door deliberations Wednesday. The board also considered Access Health CT Chief Operations Officer Peter Van Loon and Chief Financial Officer Steven Sigal.
“Over the past two years, Jim has demonstrated great leadership in his role at Access Health, and we know he will continue to work collaboratively with the entire team,” Wyman said. “His strong background and experience will lead the Access Health team through the next open enrollment, as well as provide continuity on the overarching mission to provide residents of Connecticut with quality, affordable healthcare.”
Wadleigh, 47, has been working as chief information officer of the exchange since July 2012. Prior to that, he served as senior director of application development for call center technologies at CIGNA.
Wadleigh, Sigal, and Van Loon have all been encouraged by Wyman and the board to submit their application for the permanent position, which will now be the subject of a national search.
Wyman declined to put a timeline on the national search.
