Ventas, Inc. announced that Maurice Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Care Service Corporation, has been appointed as an independent member of its Board of Directors effective immediately. HCSC is the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States, covering over 16 million members across its Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans in five states. Smith, 49, is a national leader in healthcare, with over 25 years of experience in fiscal, strategic and operations leadership in the health insurance industry. Smith was named CEO of HCSC in 2020, when he was also recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. He is a member of the Board of the Economic Club of Chicago, World Business Chicago and Roosevelt University, and a Trustee of the Civic Federation. Smith began his career at HCSC in 1993 and has served in a wide variety of roles, including business development, corporate transactions and as President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.