Banner|Aetna announces the retirement of its founding CEO, Tom Grote, and the appointment of Victoria Coley as the organization’s new chief executive officer effective January 1, 2025. This transition marks a milestone for the joint venture health insurer, which was formed with a mission to improve health care in 2017 by parent companies Banner Health and Aetna, a CVS Health company.
During Grote’s tenure, Banner|Aetna carved out a place as one of the nation’s top-performing joint venture health plans. The company’s remarkable achievements include sustained membership growth, financial success and the launch of groundbreaking initiatives that improve health care access and quality for people throughout Arizona, setting the insurer apart as a trailblazer in the industry.
“Tom Grote’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to transforming health care have been instrumental to Banner|Aetna’s success,” said Chuck Lehn, President, Banner Health Plans & Networks. “We are grateful for his contributions and excited to see the company’s pioneering work carried forward with Victoria at the helm.”
Coley, with 20 years of health plan leadership expertise, is ideally positioned to guide Banner|Aetna into its next chapter. Her accomplished career includes experience in health insurance sales and operations across commercial and Medicare lines of business. Most recently, she served as Chief Medicare Officer for Aetna in the Arizona and Mountain Markets, prior to which she oversaw the insurer’s commercial business as Executive Director of National Accounts in its Northwest and Mountain markets. Before joining Aetna, Coley served in various regional and market leadership roles for Humana, with responsibilities spanning commercial sales and market strategy for the national payer’s medical and specialty benefits in its Western region.
In Coley’s new role as CEO at Banner|Aetna, her strategic direction will lead the company to deliver even greater value to members, partners and communities.
“It’s an honor to join a company that pushes the boundaries of innovation and collaboration,” said Coley. “Banner|Aetna is redefining what health care can be, and I’m thrilled to lead this talented team to continued success.”
“Aetna is proud to support Banner|Aetna as it enters this exciting new phase,” said Kyle McDonald, West Region President, Aetna. “Victoria is a proven leader who aligns with the organization’s mission-driven culture and can guide its future.”
