Eric Schultz takes the helm of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's Board of Directors has named Eric H. Schultz as its new president and CEO. Schultz formerly served as the president and CEO of Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP), where he has worked for more than a decade.

“The opportunity to lead Harvard Pilgrim and make the best health plan in the nation even better is an exciting challenge,” said Schultz in a statement.

Harvard Pilgrim is a not-for-profit health plan that provides a variety of health benefit options and funding arrangements to more than 1 million members in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

Schultz helped transform Fallon from a regional health plan into a statewide healthcare services company that achieved eight consecutive years of operating gains and 35% membership growth. He holds leadership roles as vice chairman of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and nationally as the former chairman of the Association of Community Health Plans.

Fallon has named its current division president of Health Plan Operations, W. Patrick Hughes, as its interim president and CEO.

Schultz succeeds former Harvard Pilgrim Heath Care president and CEO Charles D. Baker, who left HPHC in July 2009, and interim CEO Bruce Bullen.