Gregory E. Deavens President and Chief Executive Officer
Under his leadership, Independence has made a strategic priority of advancing equitable, whole-person health, which encompasses integrating physical and behavioral health and reducing racial and economic health disparities. The company is deeply committed to helping create a fair and effective health system that provides access to quality, affordable care for all. The organization also has focused on partnerships dedicated to reducing the cost of medications for the benefit of members and employer customers.
Mr. Deavens has been named to Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare, Savoy magazine’s Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America, and Philadelphia magazine’s Most Influential People in Philadelphia, among other honors. He also received the Excellence in Governance award from Modern Healthcare in recognition of his contributions as chair of the board of directors for Hartford HealthCare from June 2020 to June 2023.
He assumed the role of CEO at Independence in January 2021. Mr. Deavens joined the company in 2017 as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. Prior to that, he held senior financial roles at MassMutual, NY Life, Cigna, and GE Capital. He began his career in public accounting with Price Waterhouse, where he specialized in financial services while working in the firm’s New York, London, and St. Louis offices.
Mr. Deavens is chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s board of directors. He also serves on the boards of Alegeus Technologies, America’s Health Insurance Plans, BCS Financial Corporation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, National Institute for Health Care Management, and Quartet Health. He serves on the PNC Bank advisory board (Philadelphia Region) and as a commissioner for the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission and the America 250PA Commission. As part of his responsibilities at Independence, he serves on the boards of Independence Health Group and AmeriHealth Caritas.
In addition, Mr. Deavens is a trustee of the Barnes Foundation, on the board of directors of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and an honorary trustee of the Amistad Center for Art & Culture.
He is a certified public accountant (CPA inactive)* and a member of the Executive Leadership Council, the National Association of Corporate Directors, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Deavens holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Florida A&M University and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Manor College in 2024.
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