Gregory E. Deavens

Gregory E. Deavens, CPA*, CGMA, is president and chief executive officer for Independence Health Group (Independence), parent of Independence Blue Cross, one of the nation’s leading health insurers. He assumed the role in January 2021.

Under his leadership, Independence has been committed to advancing equitable, whole-person health care. This includes a focus on reducing racial and economic health inequities and integrating physical and mental health care. Also, the organization has focused on partnerships dedicated to reducing the cost of medications for the benefit of members and employer customers.

Mr. Deavens was named to Savoy magazine’s Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America in 2022, Philadelphia magazine’s Most Influential People in Philadelphia in 2021 and 2022, as well as Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare in 2021, among other honors.

He joined Independence in 2017 as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. In this capacity, he led the company’s financial functions as well as its actuarial, underwriting, and enterprise risk management organizations. Prior to that, Mr. Deavens 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 chairman of the Board of Directors of Hartford HealthCare. He also serves on the boards of The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia; Alegeus Technologies; Quartet Health; BCS Financial Corporation; the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; National Institute for Health Care Management; and America’s Health Insurance Plans. He serves on advisory boards for Town Hall Ventures and PNC Bank (Philadelphia Region). As part of his responsibilities at Independence, he serves on the boards of Independence Health Group and its subsidiaries. In addition, Mr. Deavens serves as trustee of the Barnes Foundation, on the board of directors of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and as an honorary trustee of the Amistad Center for Art & Culture. He recently served on the transition leadership board of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

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. He and his wife, Beverly, have three adult children.