ST. PAUL, Minn., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Therapeutics (Prime), announced today that Michael Showalter has joined the company as chief marketing officer (CMO). As CMO, Showalter has overall responsibility for Prime's marketing and product development efforts, focused on helping the company continue to grow as a leading pharmacy benefit manager. Showalter's proven expertise in consumer-oriented strategies will also help prepare Prime for success as the market evolves.

"Michael brings an extensive track record of business strategy, health care marketing and product development expertise to the Prime team," said Eric Elliott, president and CEO, Prime. "I am confident that his diverse skills will allow us to leverage the value of pharmacy – the most frequently accessed component of the health care chain - to help shape our clients' success in the consumer-centric post-reform market. Michael's experience will help us continue to see significant growth, as we have in recent years, through industry-leading product development and helping us communicate Prime's differentiators as an integrated PBM focused on value and transparency."

Previously, Showalter served as the senior vice president of Enterprise Strategic Planning at CIGNA. Prior to that, he was CMO and the general manager of Consumer Driven Product Lines at CIGNA HealthCare, and vice president of Product and Public Affairs at Definity Health. He received his bachelor's degree in Speech/Communication from the University of Minnesota.

Prime Therapeutics is a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated to providing innovative, clinically-based, cost-effective pharmacy solutions for clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services nationwide to approximately 17 million covered lives, its client base includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and third-party administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics is collectively owned by 12 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those Plans. Learn more at www.primetherapeutics.com.

SOURCE Prime Therapeutics

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