After three years at the helm, Patrick J. Geraghty will soon leave his post at Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Minnesota to take the same position in Florida.

Geraghty has served as president and CEO of Eagan-based BCBS of Minnesota since 2008. In that role, he has been responsible for the strategy and operations of a health plan that serves 2.7 million members. He's also a member of the Blue Cross board of trustees and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation board.

Geraghty will succeed outgoing BCBS of Florida CEO Robert I. Lufrano, effective September 1.

BCBS of Minnesota said in an e-mailed statement that Geraghty will serve in his current position until early August. The board of trustees will work to find a permanent replacement-and Pamela Wheelock, chair of the BCBS of Minnesota board of trustees, will serve as interim president and CEO until that replacement has been named.

BCBS of Minnesota spokeswoman Pamela Lux said Friday that the board will consider local and national candidates both within and outside of the national BCBS organization. The board hasn't created a timeline for finding a permanent replacement but “I think we expect it would be a period of months,” Lux said.

Prior to joining BCBS Minnesota, Geraghty served as senior vice president of the service division for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. His experience also includes senior leadership positions with Prudential Insurance Company.

Geraghty is a frequent speaker on a wide range of health care topics, including the impact of health-care reform, payment reform strategies, health-care innovation, and prevention and wellness.

“We thank Pat for his service,” Wheelock said in a statement. “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is strong financially, and has innovative products and programs in the market, and is well positioned for continued future success due to Pat's leadership. We wish him the very best in his new role.”

BCBS of Minnesota is the state's largest Minnesota-based health-care insurer based on revenue, which totaled about $9 billion for the 2010 fiscal year.