Kim Keck
Evolent HealthAbout Kim Keck
Kim Keck, age 61, is an independent director of Evolent Health (EVH) and has served on the Board since January 2021 . She is President and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and previously served as President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island; earlier in her career she held senior roles at Aetna (SVP 2010–2016) . Keck chairs EVH’s Audit Committee and has been designated an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules; she also serves on the Nominating and Governance Committee . She holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Boston College, an MBA in Finance from the University of Connecticut, and is a CFA charterholder .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield Association | President & CEO | Jan 2021–present | Industry leadership; payer expertise |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island | President & CEO | Jun 2016–Dec 2020 | Led regional payer operations |
| Aetna | Senior Vice President; prior leadership roles | 2010–2016 (SVP); 2001–2016 (various) | Finance/strategy leadership in payer segment |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield Association | Director (board member) | Current | Serves on BCBSA Board |
| Oak Street Health, Inc. | Director | Prior | Previously served; not current |
| Other public company boards | — | — | None currently disclosed for Keck |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board affirmed Keck’s independence under NYSE and SEC standards .
- Committees: Audit Committee (Chair); Nominating & Governance Committee (Member) .
- Audit expertise: Designated “audit committee financial expert” by the Board .
- Attendance: The Board met 12 times in 2024; each incumbent director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings during their service period .
- Executive sessions & governance: Independent directors hold executive sessions at each Board meeting; EVH maintains independent committee chairs and strong governance policies (ownership guidelines, clawback, anti‑hedging/pledging) .
Fixed Compensation (Non‑Employee Director – 2024)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $80,000 | Standard non‑employee director retainer |
| Audit Committee Chair retainer | $25,000 | Committee chair fee |
| Nominating & Governance Committee member retainer | $5,250 | Committee member fee |
| Total cash compensation | $110,250 | Sum of retainers |
| Annual equity grant (RSUs) – grant date fair value | $180,000 | RSUs vest on earlier of first anniversary or the Annual Meeting, subject to service |
- 2024 Total Director Compensation for Keck: $290,250 ($110,250 cash + $180,000 stock awards) .
- Director stock ownership guideline: 5x annual cash retainer; five years to comply (applies to all directors) .
Performance Compensation
| Performance‑linked element (Directors) | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Performance‑based equity or cash metrics | None disclosed | Non‑employee director equity grants are time‑based RSUs; no performance conditions disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public company directorships: None disclosed for Keck .
- Prior public board: Oak Street Health, Inc. (previously served) .
- Potential interlocks/conflicts: Keck’s role as BCBSA CEO places her within the payer community that overlaps with EVH’s customer base; however, EVH disclosed no related party transactions requiring disclosure since the beginning of fiscal 2024 and maintains an Audit Committee‑administered related‑party policy to manage conflicts .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance/Audit: Audit Committee Chair; “audit committee financial expert” designation .
- Industry: Deep payer/healthcare leadership across BCBSA, BCBSRI, and Aetna .
- Credentials: CFA; MBA (Finance, University of Connecticut); BA Mathematics (Boston College) .
- Governance: Member, Nominating & Governance Committee; familiar with CEO succession and board evaluation processes .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (shares) | 39,522 shares (<1% of outstanding) |
| Shares outstanding reference | 117,398,726 shares outstanding (for percentage context) |
| RSUs outstanding (as of 12/31/2024) | 7,709 RSUs from director service, vesting within 60 days of April 10, 2025 |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited by company policy for directors and officers |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives
- Chair of Audit Committee with SEC “financial expert” designation enhances financial reporting oversight .
- Independent status with service on Nominating & Governance supports board refreshment and succession practices .
- Strong director pay structure emphasizing equity alignment; clear ownership guidelines; anti‑hedging/pledging policy .
- Boardwide investor alignment signals: 2024 say‑on‑pay approval ~94.3% and use of an independent compensation consultant (Exequity) .
-
Watch items
- External role as BCBSA CEO could create perceived ecosystem overlaps with EVH’s payer customers; nonetheless, EVH reported no related‑party transactions requiring disclosure in 2024 and maintains a robust related‑party review policy .
- Active board refreshment and 2025 cooperation agreement with Engaged Capital indicate heightened shareholder engagement; not a direct issue for Keck, but relevant to overall board dynamics and oversight intensity .