10 Cigna government affairs leaders
Head of Global Public Policy, Vice President Government Affairs and Director, State Government Affairs are among the current titles held by these Cigna government affairs leaders, alongside public policy directors. A reader can learn how government affairs leaders work at Cigna from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Ashlie Keener Kuehn
LinkedInExperience: State Government Affairs Director · Cigna Healthcare
Ashlie Keener Kuehn has been State Government Affairs Director at Cigna Healthcare since January 2026, based in the St. Louis area. Ashlie Keener Kuehn was Director, State Affairs at ITG Brands (2023 to 2025) and Director, State Government Affairs at Juul Labs (2019 to 2022).
Ekrem Sarper
LinkedInExperience: Head of International Public Policy · Cigna Healthcare
Ekrem Sarper has been Head of International Public Policy at Cigna Healthcare since August 2021, and the profile says Ekrem Sarper leads international public policy and government affairs for The Cigna Group. Ekrem Sarper was Lead Manager, Bilateral Affairs at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) from 2018 to 2021.
Elena Butkus
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & COS Government Affairs · The Cigna Group
Elena Butkus has been Vice President & COS Government Affairs at The Cigna Group since April 2025, and was Vice President Federal Government Affairs & Public Policy at Cigna Healthcare from 2019 to 2025. Elena Butkus was also Vice President and Head, State Government Affairs at Aetna, a CVS Health Company (2009 to 2019).
Kara Smith
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Federal & International Advocacy & Political Engagement · The Cigna Group
Kara Smith has been Vice President, Federal & International Advocacy & Political Engagement at The Cigna Group since April 2025, based in Alexandria, Virginia. Kara Smith was Vice President, External Affairs at UnitedHealth Group (2011 to 2024) and Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Kit Bond (2005 to 2010).
Katie Hitt
LinkedInExperience: Director, State Government Affairs · The Cigna Group
Katie Hitt has been Director, State Government Affairs at The Cigna Group since November 2025, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Katie Hitt was Senior Director, Government Relations at Elevance Health (2020 to 2025) and Director, Government Relations at Amerigroup Tennessee, Inc. (2016 to 2020).
Matthew Ness
LinkedInExperience: Director of Government Affairs and Global Public Policy · The Cigna Group
Matthew Ness has been Director of Government Affairs and Global Public Policy at The Cigna Group since May 2012, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Matthew Ness worked in Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM) at Bank of America from 2010 to 2012 and served as a Combat Infantryman Team Leader in the US Army from 2003 to 2007.
Meiti Negari
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Public Policy · The Cigna Group
Meiti Negari has been Senior Director, Public Policy at The Cigna Group since September 2025, based in the Washington, D.C. area. Meiti Negari was Senior Director, Policy and Research (2023 to 2025) and Director, Policy and Research (2019 to 2022) at PhRMA, and Policy Consultant, Goverment Programs at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (2010 to 2017).
Natalie Bernardi
LinkedInExperience: State Government Affairs Senior Director · The Cigna Group
Natalie Bernardi has been State Government Affairs Senior Director at The Cigna Group since February 2018, based in New York. Natalie Bernardi was Counsel/Director, Senate Insurance Committee at the New York State Senate (2015 to 2017) and Assistant Counsel at the New York State Senate (2014).
Rachel Weiss
LinkedInExperience: Head of Global Public Policy, Vice President Government Affairs · The Cigna Group
Rachel Weiss has been Head of Global Public Policy, Vice President Government Affairs at The Cigna Group since September 2026, and held the Head of Global Public Policy, Managing Director Government Affairs role there from 2025 to 2026. Rachel Weiss was Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for External Affairs at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2024 to 2025).
Tracey Hester
LinkedInExperience: State Government Affairs Director · The Cigna Group
Tracey Hester has been State Government Affairs Director at The Cigna Group since October 2024, based in Minneapolis. Tracey Hester was State and Local Government Affairs Manager at bp (2023 to 2024) and Director, State and Local Government Affairs Central Region at Target (2021 to 2023).
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Pick a person whose own title covers the same ground as your question, such as federal affairs, international public policy or a named state. Use the dates on each role to favor someone whose time in it overlaps the period you care about.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did a typical week look like in your government affairs role, and which work took the most time?
- 02How do you work with legal, business and communications colleagues when a policy issue affects the company?
- 03What did you have to learn when you moved into a company government affairs role from government or another employer?
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