Safeguard Health Enterprises Promotes Cox to President

For the first time, Safeguard Health Enterprises Inc. has picked a president from outside the founder’s family.

The Anaheim-based managed care company has named its chief operating officer, John E. Cox, to the post. Cox, 45, replaced Steven J. Baileys, the 43-year-old son of the company’s late founder Alvin Baileys. Steven Baileys will remain as chairman and chief executive.

“The company is in terrific hands,” says Baileys, who praised Cox for helping the company launch its out-of-state expansion. Baileys credited Cox for helping to bring off the company’s recent acquisition of a Dallas-based managed dental-care company and is overseeing another in process in Fort Lauderdale.

The company intends to use the Texas and Florida operations as a springboard for expanding across the South and Southwest, Baileys added.

Cox joined SafeGuard two years ago as chief operating officer and executive vice president. He previously held executive jobs in finance, operations and sales at Cigna’s nationwide dental plan.

SafeGuard provides managed dental and vision care benefits and life insurance to more than 1 million individuals in 14 states.

Barbara Marsh covers health care for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7762 and at barbara.marsh@latimes.com