Lois Quam First Woman CEO of Blue Shield of California

Lois Quam, CEO © Blue Shield of California

Lois Quam is now the first female CEO in Blue Shield of California’s 86-year history, the company's board of directors announced today. Directors also revealed that Susan Mullaney, the executive vice president, will switch to chief operating officer.

Quam joined the company as president in August 2024. She was previously the CEO of Pathfinder, a nonprofit global healthcare organization serving women and girls. She has also worked with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the U.S. State Department to lead President Obama's Global Health Initiative in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

"For her entire life, Lois has worked to make healthcare better and more affordable for people from all walks of life," Kristina (Kris) Leslie, chair of the Blue Shield of California Board of Directors said in the news release. "Her leadership at the state, national and global levels to improve health care for everyone stood out to us as we selected the right leader for Blue Shield of California at this critical time."

Paul Markovich was Blue Shield of California’s CEO for that last 12 years. He will now be the president of Ascendiun and interim president of Stellarus, parent company of Blue Shield of California and consulting firm respectively. 

"I look forward to working with Californians and families across our state, along with physicians, hospitals, health systems, business leaders and state officials to make California a model for health care," Quam said in the news release. "I am focused on the challenges facing our members in every corner of our state who gather at their kitchen tables and wrestle with their healthcare decisions and whether they can afford them. As the only statewide nonprofit health plan, we can help make those conversations - and their lives – better."

Mullaney’s background includes a senior role at Kaiser Permanente, where she served as president for more than half a decade.

"Susan's extensive understanding of the healthcare delivery system and her commitment to our nonprofit mission are the right combination to meet the challenge of the rising costs of health care," Quam said.

Blue Shield of California is headquartered in Oakland, California and serves more than six million members, which includes 575,000 members on their Medicaid healthcare program, Blue Shield Promise Health Plan.