Harvard Pilgrim CEO Resigns Abruptly

BOSTON, MA — The top executive of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has resigned, as first reported by the Boston Business Journal. CEO Eric Shultz suddenly resigned Tuesday for "unspecified behavior the company said ran contrary to the company’s code of conduct," BBJ reported.

"As Mr. Schultz makes clear in his resignation letter addressed to Harvard Pilgrim’s Board of Directors... his decision to resign comes following his exhibiting behavior that he recognizes is inconsistent with his personal core values and the company’s core values and code of conduct," the company sent in a memo to employees and to Patch.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Shultz's profile no longer appeared on the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care website.

"I made mistakes, and I’m truly sorry," Shultz wrote in his resignation letter sent to Patch by a representative of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

Shultz, who is an Eagle Scout and a past president of the Northeast Region for the Boy Scouts of America, according to his LinkedIn profile, has been the CEO at Harvard Pilgrim for the past eight years. He took over after Gov. Charlie Baker left the Wellesley-based non-profit health benefits organization.

"I’m ultimately responsible for our corporate culture, one that vigorously supports and engages employees. This means moving ever forward in our drive to realize within our company and for our customers the ideals of inclusion and diversity," Shultz wrote on his LinkedIn page.

He has also been a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the New England Council, and Massachusetts Business Association, according to his business profile.

The BBJ named Harvard Pilgrim a Top Place To Work every year from 2003-2017.

On the heels of the announcement. Michael Carson was named president and assumes responsibility for Harvard Pilgrim’s full daily operations and execution of its strategic business plan, Harvard Pilgrim announced.

Later this month, the Board of Directors plans to name a board member to help facilitate key external relations during a period of transition.

Read the full resignation letter here:

Sign up for the free newsletter and get more breaking Boston news and news alerts like this direct to your inbox. Did we mention it was free?

Got something to add?

Sign up to post to Patch and tell your neighbors what's going on in town. Post anything from calendar events to a column about a need in your neighborhood to a public meeting folks should know about. Our philosophy is the more neighborhood watchers the better

Image via shutterstock. Additional reporting by Jenna Fisher/Patch