Aetna's Ronald A. Williams and Elease E. Wright Named to "Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America" List

According to Savoy, the list contains a cross section of national and international business leaders and executives who help better their community and inspire others while demonstrating a strong work ethic and community commitment.

Aetna, with 35,000 employees nationwide and with new offices in Europe and China, has consistently been recognized by national organizations as one of the best companies to work for and as a leading national employer.

Ron Williams is a strong proponent of meaningful health care reform in America by serving as a catalyst for positive change, focusing on creating innovation in the industry -- especially through information technology, and bringing new levels of transparency to the health care system. He was an early advocate in calling for an individual coverage requirement to expand access to health care and provide assistance to those who truly cannot afford it. His guided efforts launched a new era of transparency in the health care marketplace which provides consumer information on access to cost-effective, quality care.

Throughout his Aetna career, Mr. Williams has been outspoken in making the business case for quality in health care. More recently, he led efforts to develop industry standards for electronic personal health records, which provide a new way for consumers to be more engaged in their health care.

Mr. Williams also lends his time and expertise to a number of organizations, such as the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare, which he currently chairs. He is a trustee of The Conference Board and the Connecticut Science Center Board, a member of the Business Council and Business Roundtable, and a member of the Board of Directors of American Express Company. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he serves on the MIT Sloan Dean's Advisory Council, and he is a member of the Alfred P. Sloan Management Society.

As Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Elease Wright is a recognized leader who has helped transform Aetna's workforce into a best-in-class, high-performing and diverse organization by effectively partnering with and supporting both business goals and community needs. She was recently inducted as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Human Resources and is an active volunteer in numerous community, academic, and non-profit organizations including serving on the board of advisors for the University of Connecticut School of Business, and is a past board member for the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Ms. Wright also serves on the advisory board for Cornell University's Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies, and is past president of the Hartford Region YWCA board of directors. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Black Women in Business, and one of Black Enterprise's Top 50 Blacks in Corporate America.

SOURCE: Aetna