WellCare chairman role reduced

WellCare Health Plans Inc. elected Charles Berg to serve as its non-executive chairman of the board for 2011 earlier this week — representing a reduced role for Berg.

Berg had been serving as WellCare's executive chairman since January 2008, and saw the company through a number of major legal, accounting, and regulatory battles. His current contract expires at the end of this year.

CEO Allen Cunningham will take on more responsibility once the change takes place, a company release explained.

“Having accomplished our objectives with Chuck's leadership as executive chairman, he and the board believe the time is right for this transition,” said Kevin F. Hickey, who chairs of the board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

WellCare served 2.2 million members across the country as of Sept. 30. The company expects to have earned roughly $5.4 billion in revenue by the end of the year.