JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Blue announced today the appointment of Charles "Chuck" Divita, III as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Florida Blue, reporting to Patrick J. Geraghty, chairman and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Effective immediately, Divita will become a member of the Florida Blue executive management team and the operating committee.

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Joining Florida Blue in 2011 as chief accounting officer, Divita has provided leadership for the accounting, corporate development and procurement organizations. Prior to joining Florida Blue in 2011, Divita served as the chief financial officer for FPIC Insurance Group, Inc., a leading writer of medical professional liability insurance in Florida and other markets. Divita has also held leadership positions at Employers Mutual, as its President and CEO and Prudential Financial in operations and risk management roles, having begun his career in public accounting at Arthur Andersen, LLP.

Divita has been active in community and professional organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Blue Foundation, Availity, LLC, OptaComp Insurance Company, Diversified Service Options and Teach for America. He also serves on the Finance Committee of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. He previously served on the Dean's Council for the University of North Florida's College of Health and the Board of Directors of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Divita replaces Chris Doerr, executive vice president and chief financial officer, who will be retiring at the end of the year after serving Florida Blue more than 18 years.

"Since joining the company in 2011, Chuck has provided outstanding leadership in our finance and corporate development organizations," Geraghty said. "He has been critical to diversifying the health solutions we offer to help people and communities achieve better health."

Under Doerr's leadership, Florida Blue has achieved more than two decades of positive financial performance, and the company enjoys an A+ rating from both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's rating agencies. "Chris is an extraordinary business and community leader," Geraghty said. "We are excited to have Chuck join our executive management team, but I want to recognize the invaluable leadership Chris has brought to our company and our community. We thank Chris for all of his contributions and wish him well in his retirement."

About Florida Blue Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield Company is a leader in Florida's health care industry. Florida Blue has approximately 4 million health care members and serves 15.5 million people in 16 states through its affiliated companies. Florida Blue is a not-for- profit, policyholder-owned, mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit http://www.floridablue.com/.

SOURCE Florida Blue

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