Benefits pros on the move: HealthJoy, Navitus and New York Life

November 3, 2020 2:13 PM

Though the pandemic has upended work as usual, benefits advisers are still finding new opportunities to take on, with recent changes at HealthJoy, Navitus and New York Life.

Here are the latest new hires and promotions in the industry.

Do you have a new hire or promotion you would like to share? Is a key executive stepping down after years of service? Contact amanda.schiavo@arizent.com and let us know. Please provide a high-resolution headshot along with the new job details.

Navitus named Ken Goodnight senior vice president and chief customer officer

Navitus Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefits management company, has announced the appointment of Ken Goodnight to senior vice president and chief customer officer.

“Ken is an outstanding addition to the Navitus leadership team,” said David Fields, president and CEO at Navitus. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and I am confident he will help Navitus enhance our customer experience and deliver superior service while upholding our commitment to lowering prescription costs.”

Patricia Pechter, MD joined HealthJoy as chief medical officer

HealthJoy, a benefits experience platform, welcomed Patricia Pechter, MD as chief medical officer. A board-certified physician with nine years of experience in primary care, telemedicine, urgent care and health management, Pechter brings an extensive background in improving patient outcomes and satisfaction while minimizing unnecessary healthcare costs.

“I’m honored to welcome Dr. Pechter to the HealthJoy team,” Justin Holland, CEO of HealthJoy, said. “She is committed to making healthcare accessible and affordable, and our shared mission will be a major asset in creating a more meaningful healthcare experience for our members. I look forward to working together to drive new outcomes and further simplify the healthcare journey.”

Brightway Insurance opened two locations with Vipul Hapani and Jasmine Walker as owners

Brightway Insurance, a national property insurance company, opened two new locations in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Vipul Hapani and Jasmine Walker as owners.

“Vipul and Jasmine bring great experience to Brightway, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with them to offer our brand and experience to more consumers in Charlotte and neighboring communities,” said Michael Miller, the CEO of Brightway.

Total Brain named Melissa Frieswick chief revenue officer

Total Brain, a mental health and brain performance platform, announced the appointment of Melissa Frieswick to the position of chief revenue officer. Frieswick is responsible for aligning Total Brain’s sales and customer success efforts to drive sustained revenue growth.

“Melissa brings two decades of highly relevant experience in the employer sponsored total rewards and SaaS industries and is a terrific asset as we continue to bring more Fortune 1,000 and healthcare companies on board,” Louis Gagnon, CEO of Total Brain said.

STRIVE Benefits announced David Gillis as the new vice president of sales

STRIVE Benefits, an employee benefits communications platform, announced the hire of David Gillis as the vice president of sales. Gillis will be responsible for growing the sales team and leveraging existing STRIVE partnerships with national brokerages to bring employers to the STRIVE platform. Most recently, he served as the vice president for both the national accounts and mid-market sales efforts at National General Insurance Company.

Craig DeSanto elected president at New York Life

New York Life announced that co-chief operating officer Craig DeSanto has been elected president by New York Life’s board of directors, effective immediately. With his promotion to president, Mr. DeSanto will oversee all businesses of the company, including the company’s portfolio of industry-leading strategic businesses.

“Throughout his more than two decades with the company, Craig has delivered steady and proven leadership, exceptional execution of our strategic plans, consistently strong business results, and an unwavering commitment to our people and the communities we serve,” said Ted Mathas, chairman and CEO.

Sharon Cunninghis joined Scripta's board of advisors

Scripta Insights, a cloud-based healthcare IT solution announced the appointment of Sharon Cunninghis to the company’s board of advisors. Cunninghis brings decades of experience to Scripta, including 30 years at Mercer.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Sharon to our Board of Advisors. Her experience in launching consumer and employer tech solutions in the health and benefits space will be an invaluable asset to Scripta,” said Eric Levin, CEO of Scripta Insights.

Corporate Health Partners announced Dan Feruck as new president

Corporate Health Partners (CHP), a provider of workplace wellness programs and employee health coaching services, announced Dan Feruck as its new president. In this newly created position, Feruck will oversee operations, sales and administration.

“Dan has a proven track record in the industry and decades of relationship building that have created his network,” said CEO Jack Curtis. “Given his experience and tenure, we know he can take the helm and expertly navigate our company’s growth and continued success.”