James Eppel, Jr.

Senior vice president, chief operating officer

As chief operating officer, James Eppel, Jr. (Jim Eppel) oversees all internal operations of the company’s sales and marketing functions, member health-management initiatives, provider relationships, business development, service, strategic planning and product portfolio management.

Before being named chief operating officer in 2012, Eppel served as senior vice president of health management and commercial markets at Blue Cross – a position in which he was accountable for all aspects of network contracting and relationships; integrated health management; and products and services for individual and commercial group clients.

Prior to joining Blue Cross in 2007, Eppel was a senior leader at Allina Health, first serving as vice president of revenue management and improvement before being named vice president of business development. His career in health care also includes leadership positions at UnitedHealth Group and Medica.

Eppel has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of St. Thomas and is a frequent presenter on a wide variety of health care topics.