Former Wis. Governor Appointed Board Chair of HealthShares Exchange

HealthShares, a family of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) created by XShares Advisors LLC, a financial services company based in N.Y. , has announced that Tommy G. Thompson, former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services and governor of Wisconsin, has been appointed chairman of the Board of HealthShares effective immediately.

“We are delighted that Gov. Thompson has been appointed chairman of HealthShares,” said Jeffrey L. Feldman, founder and chairman of XShares Group LLC. “Gov. Thompson has long been recognized as a progressive voice for healthcare reform, in particular recognizing the need to engage the capital markets to improve efficiency and innovation in healthcare development and delivery. He also brings unique insights into how public policy and new legislation will directly impact the industry.”

“I’m looking forward to working with the other members of the board and contributing to HealthShares,” said Gov.Thompson. “As spending on healthcare increases and new legislation continues to be introduced, interesting developments will continue to affect the healthcare sector. XShares is bringing innovative investment tools to the public providing opportunities to invest in specific therapeutic ‘Verticals’ in the complex and rapidly changing healthcare, life science and biotechnology industries.”

In 2001, President Bush appointed Gov. Thompson U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. He worked on many initiatives while in office, including the Medicare Modernization Act, which provided a prescription drug benefit and increased preventive screenings to Medicare beneficiaries. Since he left this position in 2005, Governor Thompson has been active in the health arena as the president of Logistics Health, Inc., a senior advisor at the consulting firm Deloitte & Touche and independent chairman of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. He is also senior partner at Akin Gump, a Washington, D.C. law firm. He frequently speaks on health-related issues from these posts.

Gov.Thompson was the 42nd governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1987 to 2001. During his 14 years in office, Gov.Thompson garnered national attention for his leadership on welfare reform, access to health care, and education programs. Gov.Thompson has also served on Wisconsin’s state Assembly, first as a representative and later as minority leader, in the Wisconsin National Guard and the Army Reserve after graduating from the University of Wisconsin.

Source: HealthShares, XShares Advisors LLC

Topics Wisconsin