Business Council board adds two CNY players

Central New York is well represented in the latest round of additions to the Business Council of New York State’s board of directors.

The Business Council elected three new people to its board during its January meeting — and two are from major players in Central New York business. One, Eric Allyn, is the co-chairman of Skaneateles Falls–based medical-device manufacturer Welch Allyn. The other, Christopher Booth, is the CEO of Rochester–based The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, which is the parent of Central New York’s largest health insurer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

Allyn has filled a range of positions at Welch Allyn over his career, including executive roles in international business development, international and U.S. marketing, U.S. specialty sales, and Japan and U.K. country management. He is also the chairman of the board at Auburn Community Hospital and he serves on boards at the Gifford Foundation and the Allyn Foundation.

Booth became CEO of The Lifetime Healthcare Companies after former CEO David Klein decided to retire at the end of 2012. He had been Excellus president and has been involved with the health-care giant since he was with its Albany–based outside counsel, Hinman Straub P.C. The Lifetime Healthcare Companies is a $6.2 billion operation that also includes Univera Healthcare, EBS-RMSCO, Inc., and MedAmerica.

In addition to the two Central New York players, the Business Council added AT&T, Inc. New York State President Marissa Shorenstein to its board. And it made Verizon Communications, Inc. New York Region Vice President Jim Gerace an officer.

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com