Kathleen Webb Named New Chief Deputy Executive Director of Operations for Covered California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Covered California announced the appointment of Kathleen Webb as its new Chief Deputy Executive Director of Operations on Tuesday.

Webb, who has over 15 years of experience working for the State of California, will be responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of three critical functions for the exchange: Administrative Services Division, Financial Management Division, and the Information Technology Division.

"We are thrilled to have Kathleen joining our leadership team to help guide Covered California in its next frontier," executive director Jessica Altman said. "She is a seasoned strategist with extensive experience providing a broad range of complex consultative and analytical skills that uniquely suit the needs of the organization."

Webb joins Covered California from the Department of General Services, where she was the Chief Risk Officer, managing all aspects of the Office of Risk and Insurance Management and serving as the State's Risk Manager. She also served as the Chief Operating Officer for the California State Controller and worked as Acting Director and Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Prior to joining DMV, she served as an Assistant Secretary and Director of Performance Improvement at the Government Operations Agency.

Webb replaces the retiring Karen Johnson, who has served as Covered California's Chief Deputy Director since 2017.

Johnson began her public service career in 1989 and made an impact with her leadership at various agencies including the Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Food and Agriculture, Board of Equalization, and the Department of Health Care Services.

"On behalf of Covered California's board, I want to thank Karen for her years of public service and the positive impact she has made on the organization during her time here," Altman said. "Karen's remarkable commitment to our mission has impacted the lives and well-being of millions of Californians, and we are deeply grateful for all that she has accomplished as chief deputy executive director at Covered California."

The annual salary for Webb's position is $325,008 and she will officially join the Covered California team on January 6, 2025.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state's health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California's consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.