J. Bradley (Brad) Wilson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Brad Wilson is president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). He brings to the job extensive business experience, public policy expertise and a strong record of community involvement. Wilson is a native of Watauga County and was the first person in his family to attend college. He views his leadership role at BCBSNC as a culmination of his commitment to serve North Carolina and its people.
Wilson became president in 2010. He has served in a variety of senior leadership positions since coming to BCBSNC in 1995, including executive vice president, chief operating officer, general counsel and corporate secretary. His career and public service focus have included the practice of law, government and, legislative issues, higher education, regulatory affairs and business.
A lifelong resident of North Carolina, Wilson was in the general practice of law for 14 years prior to serving as general counsel to Governor Hunt. As general counsel to the Governor, Wilson managed the legal department within the Governor’s Office and was the chief legislative strategist for the Governor’s legislative program. He also served as acting secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.
Wilson’s involvement in community affairs has included service on a number of state boards and non-profit boards. During the 1980’s, he served as a member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation and the North Carolina Aeronautics Council. In 1997 he was elected by the North Carolina Senate to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and served as Chair of that Board from July 2002 to June 2006. He served 10 years on the North Carolina Railroad Company Board where he served as secretary, vice chair, and chair of the board. Wilson has also served as a member of the Meredith College Board of Trustees and served as Chair of that Board in 2001-2002. He is also a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Governor of North Carolina. He also serves on the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University School of Law and is Chair of the following: Attorney General’s Campus Security Task Force; 21st Century Transportation Study Committee; AirT, Inc. Board of Directors; and the Wildacres Leadership Initiative Board.
Wilson has a B.A. degree from Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.), a Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law (Winston-Salem, N.C.), and a Masters of Arts degree from Duke University (Durham, N.C.). He is married and has two adult children.