PITTSBURGH – On April 1, Highmark Inc.’s board of directors terminated for cause Kenneth R. Melani, MD, as president and chief executive officer. He has served as the CEO since January 2003. The board had originally placed Melani on unpaid administrative leave on March 29, at which time it announced that J. Robert Baum, PhD, would serve as acting CEO in addition to maintaining his duties as Highmark’s chairman of the board. The leave and subsequent termination stemmed from an incident on March 25 that resulted in Melani being arrested for defiant trespass and simple assault.

“The board has reviewed this situation thoroughly and has taken decisive action to address the matter,” said Baum. “For 75 years, Highmark has served this community with integrity and is committed to maintaining the highest standards.” While Baum will continue as acting CEO and board chairman, he said the board is moving forward to identify a long-term successor to the CEO position.

Highmark is the parent company of Highmark Vision Group (HVHC), whose CEO, David Holmberg, is division president of subsidiary services and executive vice president for Highmark. He is also CEO and chairman of Highmark Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental and San Antonio, Texas-based, Visionworks, formerly known as Eye Care Centers of America (ECCA), the third largest U.S. optical retailer, according to Vision Monday’s Top 50 U.S. Optical Retailers.