Health Plan Leader with Three Decades of Experience to Drive Growth and Innovation for Service-First TPA
EXETER, N.H., Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Cobalt Benefits Group today announced the appointment of Duncan Stuart as Executive Vice President of Cobalt Benefits Group, who will lead Great Bay Administrators (GBA), the company's newest third-party administrator (TPA) brand serving self-funded employers nationwide. Stuart brings 30 years of healthcare industry expertise, including 22 years in senior leadership roles at a leading national carrier, where he formerly served as President of a regional health plan.
In his new role, Stuart will lead GBA's strategic growth initiatives and operational excellence, furthering the company's mission to deliver exceptional service, complete cost transparency, and flexible plan designs to self-funded employers across the United States.
"I've spent my career advocating for a healthcare system that works better for everyone—one built on transparency, value-based care, and improved member experiences," said Stuart. "GBA addresses an important need in today's market. Rather than pursuing vertical integration, we prioritize creating seamless integration opportunities."
During his tenure at a leading national carrier, Stuart led a regional operation of multi-billion-dollar scale, driving growth and shaping strategies that impacted millions of lives. His responsibilities spanned commercial business—similar to Cobalt's work with self-funded employers—as well as Medicare Advantage and network negotiations with health systems and providers.
"Duncan's extensive experience leading large-scale health plan operations, combined with his passion for innovation and member-centric care, makes him the ideal leader to guide the launch of GBA," said Bill Meehan, President and CEO of Cobalt Benefits Group. "His track record of transforming healthcare delivery and his deep expertise in network strategy and employer solutions will be invaluable as we expand our service to employers nationwide."
Throughout his career, Stuart has been an outspoken advocate for healthcare transformation, focusing on increased transparency for customers, shifting provider contracts from volume-based to value-based payment models, and improving health outcomes through enhanced consumer experiences.
"Our shared vision for GBA is to become a modern evolution of the service-focused, independent TPAs of the past—organizations that are rare today," said Stuart. "This approach uniquely positions us to partner with advisors and employers and ask: What do you envision? What would best support your employees and their families?"
Stuart's appointment comes as GBA continues to build on Cobalt Benefits Group's 60+ years of TPA expertise. As a nonprofit-owned organization, Cobalt and its family of brands are uniquely positioned to focus exclusively on serving employers and their members, rather than maximizing returns for private equity or shareholders.
"Our ownership structure allows us to make decisions based solely on what's best for our clients and their employees," added Meehan. "With Duncan's leadership, we're strengthening our ability to deliver on that promise while bringing innovation and strategic vision to the self-funded marketplace."
GBA offers employers access to a major national network, flexible plan designs, complete data transparency, and seamless integration with over 100 vendors. The company's JoinHealth care delivery and engagement platform provides members with a modern, user-friendly experience for managing their healthcare benefits.
For more information about Great Bay Administrators, visit greatbayadministrators.com.
About Great Bay Administrators
Great Bay Administrators (GBA) is a third-party administrator (TPA) that brings proven, service-first TPA expertise to self-funded employers nationwide. Built on Cobalt Benefits Group's 60+ years of industry experience, GBA delivers exceptional service, complete cost transparency, and flexible plan designs. For more information, visit greatbayadministrators.com.
About Cobalt Benefits Group
Cobalt Benefits Group is a family of innovative third-party administrator (TPA) brands, including Blue Benefit Administrators of Massachusetts (BBA), Comprehensive Benefits Administrators (CBA Blue), Great Bay Administrators (GBA), and Employee Benefit Plan Administrators (EBPA). Specializing in self-funded benefit plans focused on flexibility, service, and transparency, Cobalt supports over 250,000 members across the U.S., delivering customized solutions that improve outcomes and lower costs. Learn more at cobaltbenefitsgroup.com.
Media Contact
Justin Metz, Cobalt Benefits Group, 1 2344101017, [email protected], www.cobaltbenefitsgroup.com
SOURCE Cobalt Benefits Group
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