Today, I am writing to share with you the news of my plans for retirement at the end of this year. While I am excited to move on to the next chapter, this transition comes with mixed emotions as I reflect on all that we have achieved together at Pacific Blue Cross.

For more than 30 years, I have had the honour and privilege of working alongside people like you, who are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of British Columbians.

When I first joined the organization in 1989, I was hired in the Finance department as Controller. At that time, the organization was made up of close to 350,000 members and less than 300 employees. Today, our membership has reached over 1.6 million and our organization proudly employs more than 750 British Columbians.

In my time with Pacific Blue Cross, I have had an opportunity to observe the organization evolve its culture and hit several pivotal moments and milestones along the way. From the creation of Pacific Blue Cross in 1997 through the strategic merger of MSA & CU&C, to the launch of our Individual Products in the early 90s, to moving into 4250 Canada Way. We’ve not only grown in size but also in areas of specialty and expertise.

We’ve come a long way since 1989 to expand and enhance our organization, working in more collaborative and cross-functional ways and establishing a culture that is uniquely ours. We’ve also made strides in leveraging innovations to propel our mission forward. When I joined Pacific Blue Cross, all our work was done manually. Today, we have digitized over 90% of our transactions.

So much of this has been enabled by your unwavering trust and support in Pacific Blue Cross, and I am incredibly grateful for all that you do to help us bring our vision to life.

Transition Plans

A PBC Board CEO Selection Committee has been established and has retained an executive recruitment firm that is well-positioned to support the search for a new President & CEO. This process will begin on June 1, and while we can’t share the exact date of the new President & CEO joining, the CEO Selection Committee and I are committed to a successful leadership transition. We will provide an update when the search is complete. In the interim, for any questions or concerns, please continue to reach out to your primary contacts at Pacific Blue Cross. 

Rest assured that Pacific Blue Cross is well positioned for the future. We’re currently the market leader in Group, Government, and Individual health plans, with new products and services that have led to the highest membership in the history of the company, serving 1 in 3 British Columbians. I am confident that with your continued trust and support, our well-established leadership team and dedicated team members – alongside the newly appointed President & CEO – will drive our vision and purpose forward and continue to set the course for our joint success.

I know that I am leaving the company in good hands to continue to proudly serve our members and partners. I am confident that the organization will continue thriving in the spirit of health and wellbeing and the values of trust and collaboration for which PBC is so well known.

Healthy Wishes,

John D. Crawford
President and Chief Executive Officer