MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 1, 2022—WPS Health Solutions announces the planned retirement of its President and CEO, Mike Hamerlik. The WPS Board of Directors will identify WPS’ next president and CEO following an established succession and transition plan. A board-appointed transition committee is ready to begin the process.
“I’ve long said that my tenure at WPS would be a maximum of 10 years given the stage of my career. I intend to retire by this time next year,” Hamerlik said. “Change is good for organizations and provides new leaders opportunities.”
The WPS Board has ample time to identify a successor and complete a seamless transition over the next 12 months.
“Mike has been an exceptional leader at WPS for the past 10 years,” WPS Board Chair Kristine Euclide said. “Now, our job is to identify his successor and allow him time to lead the transition, so WPS can continue its tradition of providing exceptional customer care within a nationally recognized top workplace.”
Hamerlik has been at the helm of WPS since 2012. He serves on the boards of Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation; WPS Health Plan, Inc.; The EPIC Life Insurance Company; and the WPS Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Mike is also a board member of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and is the Immediate Past Chair of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he serves on the boards of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the UW-Madison La Follette School Board of Visitors, and the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation. He is a member and past president of the Alliance of Health Insurers, U.A., Wisconsin, a state health insurance industry and consumer group. He is also a member of the Chi-Matic, Inc. Advisory Board. Mike previously served on the board of United Way of Dane County.
During Mike’s tenure, WPS Health Solutions received numerous awards, including being named a Top Workplace by the Wisconsin State Journal, making the Achievers’ 50 Most Engaged Workplaces list and its Elite 8 in the category of Culture Alignment, and winning Top Workplaces’ Culture Excellence Awards for Work-Life Flexibility and Remote Work.
In 2021, he joined approximately 2,000 CEOs across the nation to pledge action on supporting a more inclusive workplace for employees, communities, and society at large. He proactively champions pledge commitments by co-chairing the WPS Health Solutions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Council.
Prior to joining WPS, Mike was President and CEO of Noridian Administrative Services. He previously was Executive Vice President of Government and Corporate Operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, where he began as Associate General Counsel. Prior to working at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, he practiced law with Lewis and Roca in Phoenix, Ariz. He also served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives for six years.
Mike graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in marketing. He earned his law degree at the University of North Dakota School of Law. His hobbies include classical music, aviation, collecting antiques, and classic car restoration, which he intends to enjoy a lot more of during his retirement.
About WPS Health Solutions®
Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wis., has more than 2,700 employees. Within the enterprise, there are three divisions: WPS Government Health Administrators, WPS Military and Veterans Health, and WPS Health Insurance/WPS Health Plan/EPIC Specialty Benefits. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.
