Jeff Russell

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jeff Russell is the president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

Founded in 1939, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system, a national association of 34 independent, community-based and locally operated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield represents the nation’s largest and most experienced health insurance brands, collectively covering one in three Americans.

Russell has more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa, the state’s largest dental insurance company, providing dental, vision and legal benefits to more than 1.6 million members. 

Prior to that role, Russell was president and CEO of TMG Financial Services, helping to grow it to be one of the 30 largest Mastercard issuers in the U.S. He also held various executive positions for The Members Group, a financial technology and payments company, including heading the marketing, technology, product development and finance units.

Russell serves on the boards of the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and Prime Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmacy benefits management company. He is also a member of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. 

Russell earned a bachelor’s in journalism from Drake University.