Aetna chairman Ron Williams to retire, Mark T. Bertolini to become CEO

Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams, 60, will retire from Aetna in April 2011.  On Nov. 29, 2010, Williams will become executive chairman and Mark T. Bertolini, 54, currently Aetna’s president and head of Business Operations, will be appointed chief executive officer and elected to the company’s Board of Directors. 

The Board intends to elect Bertolini to the additional role of chairman of the Board upon the retirement of Williams, according to Aetna.

Bertolini joined Aetna in February 2003 and held a series of roles with increasing responsibilities before being named president in July 2007. Prior to joining Aetna, Bertolini held positions with Cigna and NYLCare and had been chief executive officer of SelectCare.

Aetna said that in his full-time role as executive chairman, Williams will focus on board duties as well as Aetna’s Chairman’s Initiatives, public policy and federal regulatory strategy. Following his retirement from Aetna, Williams has agreed to provide consulting services to Aetna and the Aetna Foundation through February 2012.