Premera Blue Cross, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent not-for-profit health insurers, has announced that Rajat Puri will become the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. The company shared the update from its Mountlake Terrace, Washington headquarters, emphasizing that Puri will play a central leadership role in strengthening technology, operations, and service delivery for millions of members.
Premera President and CEO Jeffrey Roe welcomed Puri to the executive team, noting that his expertise in scaling processes and technology solutions will be a major asset. Roe highlighted Puri’s collaborative leadership style and his ability to build systems that enhance both member and provider experiences. According to Roe, this appointment aligns with Premera’s long-standing mission to make healthcare simpler and more effective for the communities it serves.
As COO, Puri will oversee a broad portfolio of teams responsible for the organization’s operational backbone. His responsibilities will include customer service, membership and billing, claims functions, IT infrastructure, and digital product development. The company emphasized that this role is designed to further streamline the customer journey and support Premera’s strategic vision for long-term innovation.
Reflecting on his decision to join the organization, Puri shared that he was immediately drawn to Premera’s mission-driven culture. He described the organization as a place where passionate employees work together to create meaningful change and stated that the opportunity to contribute within a not-for-profit environment was especially important to him.
Before joining Premera, Puri was part of Carelon Global Solutions, the digital and operational solutions unit supporting Elevance Health. As founder and former COO of Carelon, he directed large-scale call center operations, technology systems, provider support services, and claims processing. His earlier career includes roles at McKesson, Birlasoft, and Tata Consultancy Services—experience that shaped his understanding of global healthcare technology and operational transformation.
Puri’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Engineering from the Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology in India, an MBA from ICFAI Business School, and a Chartered Financial Analyst credential. He has also completed executive education programs at the Wharton School and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Premera Blue Cross serves more than 2.5 million people across the region, including individuals, employers, and large enterprises. The company remains focused on offering comprehensive, innovative health benefits while continuing its mission-centered approach to community health.
