Linda A. Willett

Prior to joining Horizon BCBSNJ in 2010, Ms. Willett was a Partner in the New York office of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, and Chair of the firm's Drug and Medical Device practice group. Before joining Sedgwick, Ms. Willett was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Bristol-Myers Squibb's New York headquarters for 12 years. In that role, she helped corporate business leaders develop global business strategies, handled challenging risk assessments, advised on acquisitions and divestitures, and strategically resolved complex litigation and government investigations.

Ms. Willett began practicing law at McCarter & English in Newark, NJ where she was named to partnership in 1994. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Willett worked in a variety of positions at Lederle Laboratories and Shulton, Inc., subsidiaries of the American Cyanamid Company.

Ms. Willett's commitment to expanding diversity, and advancing women in the legal and corporate communities has been recognized by several organizations with those missions. She has served on the boards for many community organizations and professional associations, including The New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, The Partnership for Gender Specific Medicine at Columbia University and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. She is a member of the Economic Club of New York and the European Justice Forum, and is on the Boards of the National Women's History Museum and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Ms. Willett serves as the Education Fund President of the New York Women's Forum.

Raised in western Pennsylvania, Ms. Willett earned undergraduate and graduate degrees through National Science Foundation program grants to train teachers in the sciences. She has a Master's degree in Library Science from Rutgers University and received her Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers School of Law - Newark.