James E. Purcell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
On January 1, 2005, Mr. Purcell became the fifth President of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. He joined the company as Chief Operating Officer in May of 2000, and became Acting President and CEO in May 2004. He is responsible for the general management of the affairs of the company, directing the organization in its efforts to achieve the corporate goals and strategic directives of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Purcell was formerly a founding Partner and Managing Partner of the Providence law firm of Partridge Snow & Hahn, LLP. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the Rhode Island Quality Institute; Greater Providence YMCA; Rhode Island for Community & Justice; Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce; the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; and the New England Council. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the Advisory Council of the Roger Williams University Law School, and the Brown University Civic Leadership Council. He has served as the Chairman of the Barrington Zoning Board and the Republican Town Committee. In November 2005, Mr. Purcell was chosen as the recipient of the Providence Business News 2005 Business Excellence Award for Individual Leadership.
Mr. Purcell received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1967, and his law degree, magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law in 1974. He also served in the U.S. Army as an infantry airborne officer, serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from 1969-70 as a Pathfinder Team Leader.
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