Delta Dental of New Mexico

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4/19/2016

Delta Dental of New Mexico Board Names Edward J. Lopez, Jr., New President and CEO


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 19, 2016 — Delta Dental of New Mexico (DDNM), New Mexico’s leading dental benefits carrier, today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Edward J. Lopez, Jr., as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 25, 2016. He replaces outgoing President and CEO Walt Bolic, who announced his retirement last year after 16 years of service.

“The Board agreed that Ed Lopez’s extensive qualifications and management experience as a senior executive in regulated and unregulated industries and at major corporations uniquely qualify him to lead Delta Dental of New Mexico to even greater growth,” said Steve Chreist, Chairman of DDNM’s Board of Directors. “We’re thrilled to have him at the helm of our organization as we continue to advance oral health care in New Mexico.”

A native of Santa Fe, NM, Lopez, 53, began his career at Regional Bell Telephone Operating Company, U S WEST (now Century Link) as corporate counsel in the U.S. and Asia until his appointment in 1998 as Vice President and General Manager of the company’s New Mexico operations. He was president of the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation Board of Trustees from 2000 through 2003 until he was appointed New Mexico’s Cabinet Secretary of General Services and Superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, positions he held from 2003 through 2007. Lopez was named regional Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications at Coca-Cola Enterprises in November 2007 and was promoted to Global Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Coca-Cola’s Atlanta, GA, headquarters in 2009. He most recently practiced regulatory, administrative and business law in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM.

“I am honored to accept the role of CEO of Delta Dental of New Mexico and eager to work with the Board and the employees who make Delta Dental a leader in the industry,” said Lopez. “Walt Bolic’s great work over the years established a solid foundation on which to continue building and growing the business in a rapidly evolving industry.” Bolic and Lopez will work on the transition until the end of June.

Ed Lopez earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and a J.D. from the University of New Mexico. He has served on numerous boards and commissions in New Mexico and Colorado, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, the Kirtland Partnership Committee, as a founding member of the New Mexico Telehealth Commission, and a member of the Economic Forum of Albuquerque.

About Delta Dental of New Mexico
Delta Dental of New Mexico is a nonprofit dental benefits carrier that aims to advance oral health for New Mexicans through dental benefits plans and community giving. The company has served New Mexicans for more than forty years and covers nearly 390,000 New Mexicans.