Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> June 3, 2002
JAMES E. BUNCHER has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a
Director of SafeGuard Health enterprises, Inc. since March 1, 2000.
Prior to that he had been President, Chief Executive Officer and a
Director of Community Dental Services, Inc., a company operating dental
practices in California. Before that he was President of the Health
Plans Group of Value Health, Inc., a national specialty managed care
company, and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Community Care Network, Inc. a group health and workers' compensation
managed care company. Mr. Buncher was the founding President and Chief
Executive Officer of CIGNA HealthPlans. He has also been President and
Chief Executive Officer of two hospital management companies. Mr.
Buncher serves on the boards of directors of five healthcare companies,
of which two are public companies. Overall, he has been in healthcare
management for 29 years and has broad experience. Mr. Buncher holds
Undergraduate and Master's degrees in Accounting from the University of
Illinois, where he graduated with honors and is a CPA. Profile
TWST: Can we start with a quick overview of SafeGuard?Mr. Buncher: SafeGuard is a dental and vision benefits company that has
been in existence for over 25 years. We sell dental HMO, dental