Aetna Combining Its Global Operations

Aetna Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer, is combining its global operations into two main units serving the health and financial businesses as it attempts to raise its lagging share price. Thomas J. McInerney, president of Aetna Financial Services, will lead the financial services business, and Michael J. Cardillo, president of Aetna U.S. Healthcare, will oversee the health-care unit. This places both men in the running to replace Richard Huber as chairman and chief executive, analysts said. Aetna shares have lost about a third of their value in the last year as investors questioned its expansion strategies. The move ends speculation Aetna might sell its international divisions, which analysts value at as much as $5 billion. Shares of Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna fell $1.06 to close at $56.81 on the NYSE. Huber has used acquisitions, including the troubled $1-billion purchase of Prudential’s health insurance business, to make Aetna the largest health insurer just as the industry faced the threat of legislation and class-action lawsuits. It’s also facing a Securities and Exchange Commission review of its public filings for the last three years.