8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2007

 

Aetna Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania	1-16095	23-2229683
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT	06156
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (860) 273-0123

Former name or former address, if changed since last report: Not applicable

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On May 3, 2007, Aetna Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that the Company has appointed Mark T. Bertolini as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Head of Business Operations, effective immediately.  A copy of the Company’s press release regarding this announcement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and hereby incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Bertolini, age 50, had been Executive Vice President, Regional Businesses since February 1, 2006, having served as Senior Vice President, Regional Businesses since September 2005.  Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, Specialty Group from April 2005 to September 2005 and as Senior Vice President, Specialty Products from February 2003 to April 2005.  Prior to joining Aetna, Mr. Bertolini served as Senior Vice President, Regional Segment and Middle Market Growth of CIGNA Corporation (“CIGNA”) from November 2002 to February 2003 and as Senior Vice President, National Sales and Delivery of CIGNA from October 2000 to November 2002.

Mr. Bertolini does not have a family relationship with any Director or any other executive officer of the Company.  In addition, Mr. Bertolini has not been directly or indirectly involved in any transaction, proposed transaction, or series of similar transactions with the Company required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1   Press release of Aetna Inc. dated May 3, 2007 regarding appointment of Mark T. Bertolini as Executive Vice President and Head of Business Operations of Aetna Inc.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                                                                                             AETNA INC.

Date:  May 3, 2007	By:	/s/ Ronald M. Olejniczak
		Name: Ronald M. Olejniczak
		Title: Vice President and Controller

Exhibit Number	Description
Exhibit 99.1	Press release of Aetna Inc. dated May 3, 2007 regarding appointment of Mark T. Bertolini as Executive Vice President and Head of Business Operations of Aetna Inc.

EX-99.1

		Exhibit 99.1
	151 Farmington Avenue Hartford, Conn.  06156	Media Contact: David W. Carter 860-273-3658 carterdw@aetna.com
		Investor Contact: David W. Entrekin 860-273-7830 entrekind@aetna.com

News Release __________________________________________________________

AETNA NAMES MARK T. BERTOLINI

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

-- Company announces departure of James K. Foreman --

HARTFORD, Conn., May 3, 2007— Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that Mark T. Bertolini, 50, has been named to the new position of head of Business Operations, effective immediately.  In this new role, Bertolini will be responsible for the management of all of Aetna’s businesses.  He currently serves as executive vice president for Regional Businesses and reports directly to Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams.

“Mark Bertolini is a proven industry leader with an exceptional track record, and I am pleased that he has agreed to accept these significant new responsibilities,” said Williams.  “As a member of our senior management team, he has been instrumental in helping to shape and implement our business strategy, as well as articulating our views on public policy at the state and federal levels.  Importantly, he has demonstrated strong operating skills and a disciplined approach to medical cost management while delivering superior performance in his current role as head of Regional Businesses.  The businesses under Mark’s leadership have consistently achieved profitable growth, and are leading in customer service and product innovation.  I am confident that he will provide inspired leadership for all of Aetna’s businesses as we drive for industry leadership.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to take an expanded role in helping to write Aetna’s next chapter of success,” Bertolini said.  “We already have a strong focus on the customer, and are determined to be the company with whom members, employers and health care providers prefer to do business.  My goal is to work with Ron Williams, our management team and 30,000 employees to bring Aetna’s value proposition to new customer market segments and new geographies.  We have a very talented leadership team, and over the next several weeks I will be working with them on how we can continue to position Aetna to achieve our long-term strategy.”

Aetna/2

Bertolini joined Aetna in March 2003 as senior vice president of Specialty Products.  Since that time, he has had increasing responsibilities, assuming the management for Aetna’s Regional Businesses, being named to his current position in February 2006.  Prior to joining Aetna, he held positions with CIGNA and NYLCare, and had been chief executive officer of SelectCare.

Aetna also announced that James K. Foreman will be leaving the company to rejoin Towers Perrin, a global professional services firm, as managing director of HR Services.  Foreman currently serves as executive vice president for National Businesses.

“I want to thank Jim Foreman for his contributions to Aetna over the past two years as the head of National Businesses,” Williams said.  “Jim has brought important perspectives and insights to our company, and has built a great team of talented executives who I know will continue to drive favorable results and give Mark strong support in his new role.  Jim is rejoining a leading firm and we look forward to working closely with him in the future.”

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 34.9 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com

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