Norvax, the leading provider of online sales technology to the health insurance industry, announced that Fred Karutz has been named Senior Vice President of Business Development.

Karutz brings nearly 20 years of health care industry experience across payer, provider and supplier segments. Most recently, he was Corporate Vice President of the Consumer Markets Strategic Business Unit of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the fourth largest health plan in the country which includes Blue Plans in Illinois, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

"Fred's broad industry background and impressive experience managing all aspects of a consumer-focused health plan makes him a natural fit for Norvax, as we extend our commitment and broaden our products to engage consumers through the internet and the Norvax technology platforms," said Brandon Cruz, President and Chief Technical Officer, Norvax. "To support our rapid growth, we are building an outstanding management team with experience, leadership, and vision. Fred possesses all these qualities. We are thrilled to have him on board to help lead our growth in this exciting business."

At Norvax, Karutz will be responsible for business development, seeking to build new products and industry relationships to extend the use and value of Norvax' offerings.

"Norvax is positioned to be the true champion of individual health, from engaging consumers with the right dialogue and purchase experience, to building loyalty by extending customer relationships and delivering more meaningful value," commented Karutz.

At HCSC, Karutz was responsible for all aspects of the business including strategy, planning, product development, sales and marketing, customer loyalty and operations as well as membership and financial performance for nearly one million customers. Previous work at HCSC included the development of their first consumer-directed product portfolio, as well as a range of corporate strategy and affiliations assignments.

During his tenure at HCSC, he succeeded in increasing top-line revenues by $500M, producer sales by 50%, and customer retention by 20%. In addition, he oversaw 26 distinct product launches in three states.

Prior to HCSC, Karutz served as a management consultant and held key positions at CSC Healthcare, APM Management Consultants, and Monsanto/GD Searle.

He has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA from Northwestern University.

About Norvax
Norvax Inc. is a leading developer of Web-based sales and online insurance tools for the health insurance industry, helping insurance brokers, agents and carriers connect with customers and transact business more efficiently. From insurance websites to insurance software and lead management tools, the Norvax product suite lets insurance agents increase sales, cut administrative time and reduce expenses. Founded in 2001, Norvax is privately held and based in Chicago.