Jeff Russell is the president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE). Founded in 1939, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska serves more than 600,000 members in both commercial and government markets and is the leading health insurance company in the state. BCBSNE is a part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system, a national association of independent, locally operated companies which is the nation’s largest health insurance brand, collectively covering one in three Americans.

Russell has more than 25 years’ experience in senior leadership roles. Previously, Russell served as president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa, the state’s largest dental insurance company, providing dental, vision and legal benefits to more than 1.6 million members.

Prior to Delta Dental, he led a variety of companies in the banking and payments industry. He was president and CEO of TMG Financial Services, helping to grow it to be one of the 30 largest Mastercard issuers in the U.S., and held various executive positions for The Members Group, a financial technology and payments company.
Russell currently serves on BCBSNE’s board as well as the boards of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Prime Therapeutics, TRIWEST, Drake University Board of Trustees, Bankers Trust and the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Russell earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Drake University.