News Release

Date Posted

California Health Benefit Exchange Senior Leadership Appointments Announced

David Maxwell-Jolly, PhD, appointed Chief Operations Officer
Sharon Stevenson, JD, appointed General Counsel
David Panush appointed Director of Government Relations

SACRAMENTO – The California Health Benefit Exchange Board unanimously approved three senior leadership appointments, Executive Director Peter V. Lee announced today. David Maxwell-Jolly will serve as the first Chief Operations Officer, Sharon Stevenson as General Counsel and David Panush as Director of Government Relations.

"Each of these leaders brings a wealth of expertise in health care and public policy that will be a vital asset to the California Health Benefit Exchange," said Lee. "The Exchange must work closely with Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and other state departments and agencies, and the deep experience and perspectives of these individuals will help ensure our success.”

“The Board is eager to move forward with these skilled and experienced leaders to make health insurance more available and affordable in California,” said Diana Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency and Chair of the California Health Benefit Exchange Board.


Maxwell-Jolly, 62, is currently the Undersecretary of California Health and Human Services Agency. He previously served as Director of the Department of Health Care Services and Director of the Department of Child Support Services. Maxwell-Jolly holds a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. As the Chief Operations Officer, Maxwell-Jolly will oversee the management and oversight of program development and implementation as well as the day-to-day operation of the Exchange. The salary for this position is $205,000.


Stevenson, 53, is currently the Chief Administrative Law Judge and Deputy Director of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Stevenson has been with the DHCS since 1991 in a variety of leadership roles before serving as the Chief Counsel from 2007-2010. Stevenson holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Davis and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. As the General Counsel, Stevenson will serve as the chief legal advisor, providing the Executive Director and senior staff with legal advice on matters pertaining to the Exchange, its programs and operations. The salary for this position is $200,000.


Panush, 52, is currently the Health Policy Advisor to California Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg. He has been a key policy consultant in the Office of the President Pro Tempore since 1986, and has advised the past five State Senate leaders on a variety of policy and fiscal issues. Panush holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley. As Director of Government Relations, Panush will work with federal and state policy makers to ensure Exchange perspectives are reflected in federal and state regulations, guidances and legislative proposals. The salary for this position is $160,000.

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