Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) announced two new appointments to its leadership team, naming Scott Johnston to vice president, associate general counsel, and assistant secretary, and Lori Nelson as vice president of network management.

Scott Johnston - vice president, associate general counsel, and assistant secretary

Scott Johnston now serves as vice president, associate general counsel, and assistant secretary at Blue Cross. Johnston has been with Blue Cross for 18 years, holding different positions within the law department, most recently as principal attorney. He will serve as liaison to the Blue Cross board of trustees, having responsibility for board and corporate governance matters, and providing counsel for general business transactions and contracting. Johnston was in private law practice for six years before joining Blue Cross. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Nebraska.

Johnston holds bachelor's and master of business administration degrees from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Lori Nelson - vice president of network management

Lori Nelson serves as vice president of network management at Blue Cross. She is responsible for the overall development and implementation of Blue Cross' provider strategy including requirements for provider contracts, contracted health care services, and the implementation of affordability strategies related to provider networks including payment innovation, high performance networks, aligned incentive contracting and accountable care models.

Prior to this position, Nelson served as director of provider transactions at Blue Cross. Nelson also served in key roles at Fairview Health System, PreferredOne, Novartis Nutrition, Medica and Alliant Tech Systems. She has broad experience in contracting, relationship management, negotiations and financial analysis. Nelson has a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and holds a master of business administration in both finance and contracting from the University of St. Thomas.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today as a health company: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. Blue Cross is a not-for-profit, taxable organization. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.