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PARKERSBURG - A longtime leader with Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield has been named the company's new president.

J. Fred Earley II was selected Monday by the Mountain State Board of Directors to take over the position and succeed Gregory K. Smith, who is retiring as president and chief executive officer. Earley will take over the company July 1.

''I have been with the company for 20 years,'' he said of serving under presidents Smith and Tom Farson ''I have been in a position to learn a lot.

''I am appreciative to Greg for the support and leadership he has shown over the last 15 years.''

Earley was also appreciative of the board's confidence in him to lead them and is looking forward to getting started.

''I feel fortunate and humbled by the support of our board has shown me,'' he said.

Earley joined Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1989 and has served Mountain State as senior vice president of external operations, general counsel and corporate secretary since 1995. As president, Earley will have direct responsibility for sales, legal and regulatory affairs, external provider relations, provider contracting, planning and communications.

''I am pleased that our board has chosen Fred as Mountain State's new president,'' Smith said. ''As general counsel and senior vice president over the last 15 years, I believe Fred has demonstrated that he is uniquely qualified to lead our company into the future.''

Earley has the experience needed for the job in his working closely over the years with the state Legislature, the agents who sell their products as well as the providers they work with, Smith said.

''He is a logical and excellent choice for the job,'' he said.

Earley said he will be working on his transition into the position of president over the next six weeks. Smith will still be a part of Mountain State as chairman of the board.

''I look forward to his continued involvement,'' Earley said.

Earley has been part of the local community for many years and has worked in many capacities for the betterment of the community. Earley and his wife Donna have two children, Maureen, 18, and Sean, 16.

Earley serves as a member of the board of directors for the West Virginia High Risk Pool, the West Virginia Health Information Network, the Parkersburg Area Roundtable, the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg and the Parkersburg YMCA.

Earley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from West Virginia University and a law degree from the Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is a member of the West Virginia State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.

Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Mountain State provides or administers coverage to more than 500,000 West Virginians and has close to 1,000 employees in Parkersburg, Charleston, Wheeling and Weirton.

The employees continue to be the reason for the company's success, Earley said.

''I am fortunate that we still have the same core group of fine employees,'' he said. ''That really is the key to our success here in West Virginia and I am fortunate that they will still be here and I have that to rely on to maintain the same levels of support and dedication to our customers we always have.''