Blue Cross of Idaho names new CEO, Charlene Maher

Blue Cross of Idaho on Thursday announced that Charlene Maher will replace Zelda Geyer-Sylvia as the CEO of Idaho’s largest health insurance company.

Maher comes to Idaho from New York, where she was chief marketing officer and senior vice president for commercial sales at Emblem Health. There, she oversaw profit and loss for plans that insured about three million people and produced $8 billion in revenue.

Before that, Maher worked at Medica Health Plans and at WellPoint Inc. She began her career in health care as a registered nurse after graduating from the University of Texas with a nursing degree.

Maher will become CEO effective March 1.

Geyer-Sylvia, who became CEO of Blue Cross of Idaho about five years ago, announced her retirement late last year.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Blue Cross of Idaho names new CEO, Charlene Maher."