Former Blue Cross and Blue Shield CEO Joe Wilds joins Maddock Douglas

Joe Wilds, 42, joins Maddock Douglas with more than 20 years of experience in insurance and health care services, most recently as CEO of Regence Life and Health in Portland, Ore., where, among other accomplishments, he guided geographic expansion and helped grow business 20 percent in 2009 and 30 percent in 2010. During his 20 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, he held senior strategic planning positions, led marketing, and managed research and development.

“I believe that the health care industry has reached a tipping point. Industry transformation can be scary, and many see this monumental shift in the way consumers are being served as frightening. Others—including me—see incredible opportunity to make the business models and the services we provide better. I am joining Maddock Douglas because I am committed to making the change in health care happen,” says Wilds.

CEO Mike Maddock says, “Joe has been on a crusade to change the health care industry for much of his adult life. What he’s accomplished so far is very impressive, and we feel really fortunate to have him as part of our team.”

Wilds says, “I hear plenty of my fellow industry colleagues talking about innovation, but, unfortunately, few are willing to step up and drive game-changing new products and services to market. Maddock Douglas knows it takes a special kind of leader with the right combination of skill, attitude and insight. We think we know who they are, and we can help enable their success.”

Wilds lives in Portland, Ore., and holds an MBA from Washington State University. He was nominated as the Man of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, winner of 40 Under 40 executive award (Portland Business Journal), a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), and is a top-rated adjunct professor.

Also, Joe Wilds will be hosting with other industry experts an intimate, invite-only summit on the future of health care in Chicago, February 21, 2012. Participants will tackle the big questions ushered in by reform and other critical issues facing the sector. For more info visit http://www.maddockdouglas.com/health-care-summit-2012

Maddock Douglas, Inc., established in 1991, provides Agency of Innovation® services, which help clients take their products “from mind to market.” Using their Global Expert NetworkSM of more than 6,000 entrepreneurs, professionals and specialists from 40+ countries, they help firms break down the barriers to innovation. Maddock Douglas’ client list includes 25 percent of the top 100 global brands* and 10 out of the Fortune 50 companies.

*From Businessweek’s list of top 100 brands. The partners of the company are authors of Brand New: Solving the Innovation Paradox (Wiley, May 2011) and Free the Idea Monkey…to focus on what matters most! (ISB, January 2012). To learn more, visit www.maddockdouglas.com.