A UPMC Horizon board member who was an executive at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has been tapped as the new chief executive officer and president of UPMC Horizon, the hospital system announced Thursday.

Dean W. Eckenrode, who served as senior vice president of UPMC's insurance services division, which includes UPMC Health Plan, was named to Horizon's top post. The appointment is effective immediately.

He replaces J. Larry Heinike, who has taken a position as senior vice president of UPMC's hospital division. Heinike will remain on Horizon's board as a UPMC representative.

Eckenrode has served on Horizon's board as a UPMC representative since it merged with the non-profit Pittsburgh-based health care provider in 1998. Under terms of that merger, UPMC holds one-third, or in this case three seats, on Horizon's board for the first five years.

At UPMC Eckenrode was responsible for analyzing and developing insurance programs, coordinating interaction with commercial and government coverage programs and identifying and developing merger, acquisition and affiliation opportunities with independent healthcare providers.

The 56-year-old served as vice chairman of the for-profit UPMC Health Plan, secretary and treasurer of Community Care Behavioral Health and a board member of the Salvation Army. In addition to Horizon, Eckenrode sat on six other hospital boards within the UPMC hospital system.

Before joining UPMC he spent 27 years with Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield with his last job at the Pittsburgh insurance company being senior vice president of provider activities.

With 1,253 employees, Eckenrode takes the helm of Mercer County's second largest employer. Arch rival Sharon Regional Health System is the largest at about 1,900 employees.

Not among the initial candidates for the Horizon post, insiders said the ruggedly-built outdoor enthusiast won the appointment for his outreaching management style, a strong knowledge of health care and his savvy of the corporate world at UPMC.

"He's a strong leader nationally as well as locally and he understands the development of the health care industry,'' said John Dolan, Horizon's chairman. "He has the ability to develop strong relationships in the community that can put a face on the institution.''

Among the top reasons Eckenrode was chosen is his ability to get along with medical professionals and employees, Dolan said.

"He spent a good deal of time with our medical staff in groups of 10 or 12,'' Dolan said. "We weren't going to hire someone who couldn't immediately work well with them.''

Eckenrode received a bachelor's degree from California University of Pennsylvania, completed post-graduate work in health plan management at the University of Michigan, studied accounting and finance at Robert Morris College and took executive training at Duke University.

He will have offices at Horizon's Greenville and Farrell hospitals.

Eckenrode and his wife, Deb, plan to have a home in the local area in addition to their North Hills home.