Angela F. Braly succeeded Larry C. Glasscock as president and chief executive officer at WellPoint and now she will follow him as chairman of the national health insurer’s board of directors.

Angela F. Braly

Indianapolis, Ind.-based WellPoint announced that Glasscock, 61, will retire as board chairman and a member effective March 1, and Braly, 48, will assume the role as head of the company’s board of directors.

WellPoint operates as Anthem Blue Cross in Virginia, outside of Northern Virginia, and as Empire Blue Cross in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties, as well as in several upstate counties in New York. The company, which also operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 12 other states, is the largest private insurer based on membership.

In a statement, Glasscock called it “an honor and privilege” to serve WellPoint in various capacities over the past 11 years as “no other company is more committed to serving its members, providers and shareholders.

“At this point, my work here is accomplished and there is one individual most capable of leading WellPoint into the future: Angela Braly,” he said. “Angela is a leader of outstanding talent, dedication and vision. I wish her, and all the men and women of WellPoint, the best of success.”

Glasscock has served as board chairman since 2005 and was the health insurer’s president and CEO from 1999 to 2007. He joined Anthem Insurance in 1988.

Braly followed Glasscock as president and CEO in 2007, having previously served as the insurer’s executive vice president for a two-year period. She was president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri prior to joining the executive ranks at WellPoint.

“It has been, and continues to be, my honor to lead WellPoint’s outstanding team, and I am excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to chair WellPoint’s dedicated board, continuing the board’s efforts to help make WellPoint the most trusted choice in health care and the leader in affordable, quality care,” she said in a statement. “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Larry Glasscock for his dedicated leadership under which the company grew to the nation’s largest health benefits company, and for the advice, guidance and support he has given me and the board during his distinguished tenure.”