WASHINGTON: The CEO who pulled off the first major insurance company merger agreement of the summer also achieved what many executives might think impossible: He raised his company’s minimum wage, announced plans to up its contribution to workers’ health care and watched the stock soar by nearly 30% since January.
But Aetna’s Mark Bertolini is used to defying expectations. With his permanent face stubble, he gives off a devil-may-care attitude but is coolly calculating. And he exhibits as much tough-guy bravado as he does gentleness.In addition to skipping some morning shaves, Bertolini eschews ties whenever possible and has been known to show up at work in leather gear popular among fellow motorcyclists.
He also mourned the death of his “beautiful sweet friend” Lucky, a golden retriever, on Twitter last summer. He favors robust Italian red wine, Macallan 18-year-old whisky and Budweiser and often wears Mala beads, popular in meditation, and religious jewelry around his neck. He joined the board of directors of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in 2008 before he became CEO and remains the first and only straight member.
