ST. LOUIS, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today named K. Rone Baldwin head of the Company's newly formed insurance group.  Mr. Baldwin will oversee commercial and hybrid insurance, products associated with future exchanges and implementation of exchange products. 

Mr. Baldwin is also part of Centene's restructured operations group. He is joined by Jason Harrold, Executive Vice President, Specialty Companies; Rob Hitchcock, Executive Vice President, Health Plans; Jesse Hunter, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Development Officer; Don Imholz, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer; Dave Minifie, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer; and William Scheffel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

"This operational realignment will help to strengthen our overall business as well as future endeavors by building a balanced team of strong general managers," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Neidorff. "As part of the general management development program, each member of the executive partner group will become knowledgeable in all aspects of Centene's rapidly growing business." 

Mr. Baldwin comes to Centene with over 25 years of experience as a business executive leading a range of domestic and global financial service businesses focused primarily in the life and health insurance sector. He most recently served as Executive Vice President and business leader of Group Insurance business, which included both group health and ancillary product lines, for Guardian Life Insurance Company, which he joined in 2006.

Prior to joining Guardian, Mr. Baldwin held a number of senior executive positions during a 12-year career at Genworth Financial and at GE Capital.  He served as President of Genworth's Employee Benefits Group business, and also served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Development, where he helped lead the IPO spin-off of Genworth Financial.  Additionally, he spent five years in Japan, as President of GE Capital Japan, and subsequently as President and CEO of GE Edison Life.

Mr. Baldwin received his BA in Physics from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise that provides programs and related services to the rising number of under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and long-term care, in addition to other state-sponsored programs, and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). Centene's CeltiCare subsidiary offers states unique, "exchange based" and other cost-effective coverage solutions for low-income populations. The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health, life and health management, managed vision, telehealth services, and pharmacy benefits management. More information regarding Centene is available at www.centene.com.

SOURCE Centene Corporation