News Releases

Wellmark, Inc. Names George B. Hanna Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Business Ethics and Compliance Officer

Contact:
Angela Feig
515.245.4551
feigab@wellmark.com

(Des Moines, Iowa) – George B. Hanna has been named senior vice president, general counsel, and business ethics and compliance officer for Wellmark, Inc. (d.b.a. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa) and its subsidiaries, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc.  

Prior to joining Wellmark, Hanna was general attorney and associate general counsel for AT&T, Inc. in Atlanta, Ga., after its merger with BellSouth.  During his 12-year career at BellSouth, he served in various roles, including vice president and group general counsel for its Advertising and Publishing Group, its Intellectual Property Group, and its international operations.  He was also a senior associate for Fowler, White, Burnett, Hurley, Banick & Strickroot in Miami, Fla.

“George Hanna was selected from a slate of very qualified, diverse candidates after a five-month national search,” says Forsyth. “At AT&T, George led several teams of lawyers based throughout the United States. His progressive and diverse experience has prepared him well to assume the role of general counsel for Wellmark responsible for the legal, compliance and special investigations departments.” 

Hanna replaces F. Joseph Du Bray, senior vice president, general counsel, corporate governance officer, and business ethics and compliance officer, who is retiring after more than 13 years at Wellmark.  Prior to that, Du Bray was in private practice for 21 years and represented Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Du Bray has served in a number of roles during his tenure at Wellmark. Du Bray joined Wellmark (then IASD Health Services Corporation) in 1994 as president of Blue Cross of South Dakota and senior vice president of IASD.  When Blue Cross of South Dakota and South Dakota Blue Shield merged in 1996, Du Bray was named president and CEO of the new company, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Dakota.  In 1999, Du Bray became general counsel, board secretary, and business ethics and compliance officer for Wellmark and relocated from Sioux Falls, S.D. to Des Moines.

“Joe has served Wellmark so well in many capacities and has been a trusted advisor to me as a member of the senior leadership team,” says Forsyth.  “Joe's wisdom, experience, and historical knowledge have been valuable to many of us and he has made our compliance and ethics program best in class.”

Hanna, a native of Jamaica, W.I., received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Miami where he graduated magna cum laude.  He also earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the Moot Court Board.

Hanna is a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the State Bar of Florida. Hanna has been a member of the Public Policy Committee and General Counsel Committee for the Yellow Pages Industry Association.

Wellmark, Inc. (www.wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa.  Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than two million customers in Iowa and South Dakota.  Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 

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Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross®, Blue Shield®, and the Cross® and Shield® symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.