Michael J. Guyette Named President and CEO of VSP Global

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- VSP Global® today announced that Michael J. Guyette has been appointed President and CEO of VSP Global. Guyette will succeed VSP Global Board Member Rob Lynch, who has served as interim President and CEO since April 2017.

Guyette, age 53, has more than 20 years of experience in building, growing and leading large health plan organizations and most recently served as President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. In that role, he was responsible for the strategy and operations of the state's largest health plan, serving 2.9 million members, with a full scope of health plan products and services.

"The Board of Directors is extremely confident in Michael Guyette's ability to lead VSP Global successfully into the future through a time of unprecedented competition and change," said Daniel L. Mannen, O.D., F.A.A.O. and VSP Global Chairman of the Board. "We have a clear strategy and direction in place, and Michael's extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry, coupled with his proven success with a nonprofit model, provides the experience necessary to build on and accelerate our momentum."

Guyette has long been an advocate of making health insurance better aligned with the needs of consumers, and helped launch Minnesota's first retail health insurance store in November 2014. Before joining Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in 2012, Guyette held senior leadership positions at Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Independence Blue Cross. He also held a variety of senior sales and marketing positions with Prudential Healthcare and Continental Insurance. In 2010, he served as Chairman for the Consortium of Health Plans, a coalition of 21 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Since 2016, Guyette has also served as Chairman of Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefit manager owned by several Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.

"Michael's healthcare experience, knowledge of our collective businesses and commitment to our culture and values make him a great choice to lead VSP Global," said Rob Lynch, VSP Global Board Member and interim President and CEO.

Guyette assumes the role of leading a more vertically integrated company, which includes VSP® Vision Care, the only national not-for-profit vision benefits provider that serves 85 million members globally. With 2017 gross billings reaching $5.3 billion, VSP Global is poised for growth in 2018 across its lines of business, which also includes Marchon® Eyewear, Inc., a leading international designer, manufacturer and distributor of high quality eyewear and sunwear; VSP Optics Group, an ophthalmic lens technology and lab services provider; Eyefinity®, the largest electronic health records and practice management software company in the optical industry; and VSP Retail, which delivers connected consumer experiences designed to strengthen the relationship between VSP members and their eye doctors through online and offline channels.

"VSP Global is a unique company within the optical industry but also throughout the broader healthcare industry, with an important ability to take a long-term view of its work in expanding access to eye care and eyewear," said Michael Guyette, VSP Global President and CEO-elect. "I am eager to spend time listening to and talking with VSP network doctors, clients, members and employees to gain a deeper perspective of our go-forward strategy and future possibilities."

A native of Rhode Island, Guyette holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of North Texas, and an MBA from Villanova University.

About VSP Global
As a doctor-governed company, VSP Global® exists to create value for members and opportunities for VSP network doctors. VSP Global's complementary businesses include VSP® Vision Care, the only national not-for-profit vision benefits company, which provides access to eye care for its 85 million members around the world through a network of 38,000 eye doctors; Marchon® Eyewear, Inc., one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and distributors of high quality eyewear and sunwear; VSP Optics Group, industry leaders in ophthalmic technology and lab services,  providing custom lens solutions for the vision and lifestyle needs of patients; Eyefinity®, the eye care industry's largest electronic health records and practice management software company, and VSP Retail, which creates connected consumer experiences designed to strengthen the relationship between VSP members and their eye doctors. To date, VSP network doctors have provided eye exams and eyewear at no-cost to over a million people in need through a partnership with VSP Global's Eyes of Hope®.

Media Contact: Jace Duval
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SOURCE VSP Global