LT. GOV. WYMAN, ACCESS HEALTH BOARD ANNOUNCES JAMES WADLEIGH, JR. WILL SERVE AS INTERIM CEO

(HARTFORD, CT) - Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Chair of the Board of Access Health CT, announced that the Board of Directors unanimously voted this afternoon to appoint James R. Wadleigh, Jr. to serve as interim CEO of Access Health CT, effective Friday, September 5, 2014.

"The Access Health CT Board was fortunate to have three highly qualified, very capable candidates for this position," said Lt. Governor Wyman. "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. 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."

"The technology that our state's exchange is using has been held up as a national model - in fact, nine states right now are in contact with Access Health to discuss the highly regarded technology that has been developed here. This in large part goes to the credit of Jim Wadleigh, who oversaw its development and implementation," Governor Malloy said. "He has direct experience with our exchange and he's very well-qualified to serve in this interim role."

Since July 2012, Wadleigh, 47, has served as Chief Information Officer for Access Health CT. His team was recently recognized as the Healthcare Innovator of the Year by the Government Technology Research Alliance and Health Technology Research Advisory & Council. Access Health CT is one of three finalists for the Project Management Institute's Global Project of the Year.

Wadleigh's career spans 25 years in information technology across multiple insurance industries including health care, property casualty, life insurance, and annuities. Prior to joining Access Health CT, Wadleigh served as Senior Director of Application Development, Call Center Technologies CIGNA.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The University of Vermont and a Master of Science degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

"I am honored by the Board's decision and look forward to continuing my work with the tremendous team at Access Health CT," said Wadleigh. "We have an important mission to ensure every resident of Connecticut has accessible, affordable health insurance-and a great team in place to get the job done. Since day one, our focus has been to provide people with quality, affordable healthcare, our success is a team effort, and will continue to be one."