The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) today announced the selection of Jenny Smith as its president and chief operating officer, effective November 1. HMSA, one of the state’s major health insurance providers, said Smith will be its first female president in its 87-year history.
Dr. Mark Mugiishi, who has served as HMSA’s president and chief executive officer since February 2020, will continue in his role as CEO.
“With everything happening in health care locally and nationally, we’re making this change to prioritize the internal operations of HMSA so we can continue to run the best health plan possible, which the people of Hawaii deserve now more than ever,” Mugiishi said in a news release today.
“Jenny brings a wealth of experience and expertise in driving health plan performance. In her time with HMSA, she has already demonstrated how she will lead us to success in the future with her execution-first, can-do attitude.”
Smith joined HMSA, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, in April 2024 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. In that role, she oversaw the company’s financial operations as well as its actuarial and underwriting functions.
In her new role as president and COO, Smith will continue to oversee these functions along with all health plan operations, according to HMSA officials.
With more than 25 years of experience working with other national health plans, Smith has held key positions at CareFirst in Maryland and Washington, D.C. — also a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan — and the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest region.
“I’m honored to serve as HMSA’s next president as we have an ambitious vision to serve our members and benefit the people of Hawaii,” Smith said in the news release.
“We have opportunities to focus on internal efficiency and execution. We will invest in our people and systems to enhance capacities and capabilities, which will improve operational performance and help us keep health care premiums affordable for our members.”
Mugiishi, the first physician to lead HMSA, became president and CEO at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. HMSA officials noted that with Smith directing internal operations, Mugiishi “will still be responsible for the organization as a whole in service to its members, employers, providers, other stakeholders, and the community.”
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