HEALTH NET: Names New CEO

      Foundation Health Systems Inc. last week announced the appointment of Cora Tellez as the new president and CEO of Health Net, Foundation's largest health plan subsidiary. Tellez, former head of Prudential Healthcare's California operations, succeeds Dr. Arthur Southam, who announced his resignation last week. Jay Gellert, president and CEO of FHS, said, "Tellez brings to Health Net a 20-year record of solid industry experience and a well-deserved reputation as a highly respected leader and health plan operator." He also said that because Tellez "realizes how important it is for us to work closely with physicians, hospitals and purchasers in order to provide high quality, responsive health care for consumers, she is ideally suited to lead Health Net during what will be a critical period for health care in California." Prior to her position at Prudential, Tellez served as senior vice president and regional CEO of Blue Shield of California and had a 16-year tenure at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan where she held several executive positions. Commenting on her new Health Net position, Tellez said, "Health Net has a solid reputation as one of California's most innovative health plans. I look forward to leading Health Net, working closely with senior management and helping the plan achieve its full potential" (FHS release, 11/13). Click here for previous coverage of Health Net.