The Wellmark Foundation announced the appointment of Becky Wampler as the foundation’s new executive director.

With more than 25 years of experience at Wellmark Inc., Wampler is “uniquely qualified to take The Wellmark Foundation to the next level of community health improvement through the foundation’s grant efforts,” Wellmark officials said in a release.

In the last five years, she has successfully led Wellmark’s community health improvement efforts, which include the Blue Zones Project in Iowa. In her new position, Wampler will lead the foundation’s strategy and development of health improvement initiatives in Iowa and South Dakota.

She succeeds Mike Gerrish, who was the foundation’s executive director for the past four years. Gerrish will continue with Wellmark in his position of vice president for customer experience and marketing communications.