Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) has appointed JoAnn Cipiti as its new Government Strategic Executive to further develop the company’s future structure and strategy for acquiring and retaining the government and health insurance businesses.

Cipiti has 25 years of working experience in insurance industry and served as a principal in the Buck Consulting business and also worked in sales and consulting capacities at Aon, Mercy Health Services and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

BCBSAZ Strategy, Sales and Marketing senior vice president Jeff Stelnik said JoAnn will play a significant role in collaborating with her fellow colleagues to drive BCBSAZ forward in all efforts related to attracting and serving the business sector.

BCBSAZ, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest Arizona-based health insurance provider founded in 1939.

The company provides health insurance products, services or networks to nearly 1.2 million individuals.