Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) (“the Company”), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives, announced it has named Wade Rakes its Chief Growth Officer. Mr. Rakes, who currently serves as Plan President and Chief Executive Officer of Centene’s Georgia-based subsidiary, Peach State Health Plan (“Peach State”), will leverage his extensive Medicaid, business development and health plan leadership experience to support and advance the Company’s uniquely local business model in collaboration with Centene’s health plans and lines of business. Drawing on Centene’s mission and expertise, he will deepen the Company’s relationships with members, communities and partners; drive intentional expansion across existing products; and identify growth opportunities in new products and markets. Mr. Rakes will serve both roles until a new Peach State Plan President and CEO is appointed and will continue to serve as Chair of the Board of Peach State.
Mr. Rakes brings more than two decades of business and healthcare industry experience. At Peach State, he led one of the state’s largest insurance plans, providing more than 1.3 million Georgians with access to high-quality Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Marketplace plans. Meanwhile, for those who don’t know yet, here’s the costs for Medicare services. Prior to this role, Mr. Rakes served as Centene’s Regional Vice President, Business Development, Growth and Expansion, with responsibility for driving more than $5 billion in annualized new business opportunities as well as overseeing the startup of health plans in both Pennsylvania and California. He also played a leading role in the business development and integration work of several key Centene acquisitions, including Fidelis Care, Health Net and Wellcare. Mr. Rakes previously served as the Company’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Before joining Centene in 2010, he served as Senior Advisor to the Governor of Ohio and Director of Public Liaison for the state. Early in his career he held roles of increasing responsibility for Showtime Networks.
“Wade is an experienced leader with proven expertise in business development and market expansion,” said Centene’s Chief Executive Officer, Sarah M. London. “His knowledge of the managed care space coupled with his depth of experience at Centene will serve him well as he works with partners and colleagues around the company and across the country to accelerate our opportunities to serve members in both existing and new markets.”
Mr. Rakes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the High Museum in Atlanta; the Metro Atlanta Chamber; the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund (Chair); Beyond Differences (Chair); the Board of Advisors of the James A. Baker III Institute at Rice University; and the President’s Advisory Council at Princeton University.
