Joan Budden named CMO

Joan Budden named chief marketing officer of Priority Health

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - August 13, 2009) Priority Health, a nationally recognized health benefits company, announced the appointment of Joan Budden as chief marketing officer for Priority Health. Budden is responsible for strategic marketing and product development statewide.

With Budden's appointment, Priority Health realigned its marketing and product development areas. Debra Cooper has been named vice president of Integrated Marketing Services and Amy Chambers is now vice president of Market and Product Development for Priority Health.

Joan is a seasoned and dynamic executive who excels in creating a vision for the future, analyzing opportunities and leading teams to execute plans and achieve results, said Kim Horn, president and CEO for Priority Health. Joan shares our passion for providing affordable and excellent health care options for employers and individuals living across Michigan.

Budden comes to Priority Health with more than 20 years of experience. She most recently served as the vice president of individual business for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Her background includes leadership roles in operational effectiveness, strategic planning, project management, product development and market management. She will maintain offices in both Grand Rapids and Farmington Hills.

Budden holds a master's degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She has also been actively involved in the community as a volunteer working with Junior Achievement, Cornerstone School, Michigan's Children, Michigan Women's Foundation and the Office of Services to the Aging.

About Priority Health:
Priority Health is a nationally recognized health benefits company based in Michigan. It serves nearly a half million members with a broad portfolio of products including commercial and government health plans. A nonprofit dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care, Priority Health continues to be recognized as one of America's Best Health Plans by U.S. News & World Report and NCQA. Priority Health employs 900 people throughout Michigan's Lower Peninsula with offices in Grand Rapids, Farmington Hills, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo and Traverse City.