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                                                                   Exhibit 10.16

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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          THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 6th day of August,
2001, by and between CENTENE CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation (hereinafter
called the "Company"), and Brian Spanel (hereinafter called the "Executive").

          1. Employment. Company hereby employs Executive as Senior Vice
             ----------
President of the Information Systems Group with such other or additional titles
or positions as Company's President or Board of Directors may, from time to
time, determine.

          2. Duties. During the employment period, Executive shall faithfully
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perform his duties to the best of his ability and in accordance with the
directions and orders (and to the satisfaction) of the Company's President and
Board of Directors of Company, and he shall devote his full working time,
attention and energy to the performance of his duties.

          In addition to the duties assigned to him by the Company's President
and/or Board of Directors of Company, Executive shall perform such other duties
as are commensurate with his position and responsibilities, including without
limitation, exercising his best judgment; safeguarding and saving from waste the
assets of Company; and following, maintaining, and implementing the business
plans, budgets, business procedures and directives established and promulgated
by Company, as modified or amended from time to time.

          Except as otherwise provided herein, Executive shall not render
services, directly or indirectly, to any other person or organization without
his Supervisor's prior written consent and shall not engage in any activity that
would interfere significantly with the faithful performance of his duties
thereunder. Executive may perform minor services for which he does not receive
compensation, provided that the activity does not conflict with the provisions
of his duties, without written consent.

          3. Compensation. As compensation for all services rendered by
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Executive under this agreement, company shall pay to Executive, in accordance
with its then prevailing payroll practices, a salary at the annualized rate of
One Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000.00), less applicable payroll
deductions. This salary may be adjusted from time to time as directed by the
Executive's immediate supervisor or the Company's President.

          4. Other Employment Benefits. During the Employment Period:
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          (a)    Company shall reimburse Executive monthly for actual,
                 reasonable, and necessary out-of-pocket expenses he incurs on
                 Company's business in compliance with company policies and
                 procedures.

          (b)    Executive shall participate in such of Company's Executive
                 plans or fringe benefit arrangements as provided for all
                 Executives, subject to their terms and conditions.

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          (c)  Vacation Leave. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be
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               entitled to a number of vacation days as established in the
               standard company policy for senior executives. Executive shall
               accrue and receive full compensation and benefits during his
               vacation leave periods. Vacation leave shall be taken at such
               times as do not have an adverse effect on the operations or
               transactions of the Company or otherwise as Executive and his
               immediate supervisor shall agree.

          (d)  Bonus Plan. The annual target bonus is 30% of base salary with
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               potential to exceed that if and when the company exceeds its
               Annual Operating Plan criteria. This award is at the discretion
               of the Company's President. The Bonus Plan may be adjusted from
               time to time as directed by the Company's President.

     5.   Termination of Employment.
          -------------------------

          (a)  Termination for Cause. If the Company terminates Executive's
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               employment For Cause, or if Executive resigns from his
               employment pursuant to Subsection 5(b), Executive shall be
               entitled only to payment of that portion of his Salary earned
               through and including the Termination Date or the Resignation
               Date at the rate of Salary in effect at that time.

          (b)  Resignation. Executive may resign from his employment with the
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               Company at any time by providing written notice of his
               resignation to his immediate supervisor at least thirty (30) days
               before the Resignation Date, in which case he shall be entitled
               to compensation as provided in Subsection 5(a).

          (c)  Death. If Executive dies during his employment, or Executive is
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               entitled to receive payments from the Company pursuant to Section
               5(a) at the time of his death, Executive's estate or personal
               representative shall be entitled to receive that portion of the
               Salary, at the rate in effect at Executive's death, that
               Executive earned through and including the date of Executive's
               death.

          (d)  Disability. If Executive becomes Permanently Disabled, the Board
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               may terminate Executive's employment by providing written notice
               to Executive at least 72 hours before the Termination Date. If
               Executive resigns from employment with the Company as a result of
               a Permanent Disability, or the Company terminates Executive's
               employment as a result of a Permanent Disability, Executive shall
               be entitled to receive that portion of his Salary, at the rate in
               effect at the time he became Permanently Disabled, that he earned
               through and including the Termination Date or Resignation Date,
               as applicable; provided, however, the amount due and payable for
               the period on and after the date on which Executive became
               Permanently Disabled shall not be less than the portion of the
               Salary that would have been paid to him if he had continued in
               the

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          Company's employment for the 180 day period following the date on
          which he became Permanently Disabled.

     (e)  Compensation Following Termination. If the Company terminates
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          Executive's employment other than For Cause the Company shall pay
          Executive that portion of his Salary earned through and including the
          Termination Date or the Resignation Date at the rate of Salary in
          effect at that time, plus an amount equal to thirty nine (39) weeks of
          his annualized Salary paid in accordance with the then current payroll
          practices, and conditioned upon Executive's signing, and not revoking,
          a complete Release of any and all claims. In such case, Company shall
          pay for nine (9) of the eighteen (18) months health and dental
          insurance continuation coverage to which Executive is entitled under
          the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Public Law
          99-272, Title X (COBRA).

     (f)  Change of Control In the event of a "Change in Control" which, within
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          24 months from and after such Change in Control results in (a) the
          involuntary termination of Executive's employment by the Company, or
          (b) the voluntary resignation of employment by Executive because of
          (i) the reduction of Executive's compensation, (ii) a material adverse
          change in Executive's position with the Company or the nature or scope
          of Executive's duties or (iii) a request by the Company or the
          surviving entity of the transaction that resulted in the Change of
          Control that Executive relocate outside of the Metropolitan St. Louis
          area which Executive refuses, then Executive shall receive severance
          equal to fifty two (52) weeks pay paid at his choice (which choice
          shall be irrevocably made and set forth as part of the Release
          described below) either as a lump sum payment or salary continuance,
          rather than the severance paid pursuant to paragraph 5(c) above, but
          conditioned upon Exceutive's signing, and not revoking, a complete
          Release of any and all claims. In such case, Company shall pay for
          twelve (12) of the eighteen (18) months health and dental insurance
          continuation coverage to which Executive is entitled under the
          Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Public Law
          99-272, Title X (COBRA). In addition, the Company agrees to pay for
          reasonable outplacement services arranged by the Company.
          Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment or payments shall be made
          under this Agreement which would be an "excess parachute payment" as
          defined in (S)28OG(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
          amended. Payments which would be "excess parachute payments" shall be
          proportionately reduced so that no portion of any payment shall
          constitute an "excess parachute payment." For purposes hereof a
          "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to occur if (i) any
          "person" (as such term is used in (S)(S) 13(d) and 14(d) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")),
          other than (A) persons who, at the date of this Agreement, are the
          beneficial owners of 25% or more of the Company's voting securities or
          (B) a group including Executive, is or

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               becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
               the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
               Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined
               voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, or
               (ii) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
               consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other
               than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
               securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
               continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
               being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity)
               at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
               voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
               outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.
               Further, for purposes hereof, a "Change in Control" also shall be
               deemed to occur if individuals who, as the date hereof,
               constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent
               Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of
               the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that an
               individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof
               whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's
               shareholders, was approved by at least a majority of the
               directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be included
               within the definition of Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
               purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office
               occurs as a result of either an actual election contest (or such
               terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under
               the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of
               proxies or consents by or on behalf a person other than the
               Board.

     6.   Covenants.
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          (a)  Non-competition by Executive. The Executive acknowledges that the
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               list of the Company's customers and customer contacts as it may
               exist from time to time are valuable, special, and unique assets
               of the Company's busines. During the period of nine (9) months
               immediately after the termination of Executive's employment with
               the Company for any cause whatsoever, Executive will not, either
               directly or indirectly, either for Executive or for any other
               person, firm, Company or corporation, call upon, solicit, divert,
               or take away, or attempt to solicit, divert or take away any of
               the Executives, customers, prospective customers, or business, of
               the Company upon whom Executive called, solicited, catered, or
               became acquainted during Executive's employment with the Company.

          (b)  Return of Company Records and Property. Executive agrees that
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               upon termination of Executive's employment, for any cause
               whatsoever, Executive will surrender to the Company in good
               condition all property and equipment belonging to Company and all
               records kept by Executive containing the names, addresses or any
               other in information with regard to customers or customer
               contacts of the Company, or concerning any

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               operational, financial or other documents given to Executive
               during Executive's employment with Company.

          (c)  Non-disclosure by Executive. The Executive acknowledges and
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               agrees that any information obtained by Executive while employed
               by the Company, including but not limited to customer lists and
               customer contacts, financial, promotional, marketing, training or
               operational information, and employment data is highly
               confidential, and is important to the Company and to the
               effective operation of the Company's business. Executive,
               therefore, agrees that while employed by the Company, and at any
               time thereafter, Executive will make no disclosure of any kind,
               directly or indirectly, concerning any such confidential matters
               relating to the Company or' any of its activities.

          (d)  Enforcement. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
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               Executive of the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall
               be entitled to a restraining order and/or an injunction
               restraining the Executive from contacting, servicing or
               soliciting Company's customers, or customer contacts, or
               utilizing or disclosing, in whole or in part, the list of the
               Company's customers, customer contacts, employees, or financial,
               operational, promotional, marketing, or training information, or
               from rendering any services to any persons, firm, corporation,
               association, or other entity to whom such list or information, in
               whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be
               disclosed. In the event the Company is successful in any suit or
               proceeding brought or instituted by the Company to enforce any of
               the provisions of this agreement on account of any damages
               sustained by the Company by reason of the violation by the
               Executive of any of the terms and/or provisions of this agreement
               to be performed by the Executive, the Executive agrees to pay the
               Company reasonable attorney's fees to be fixed by the Court,

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     7.  Inventions.
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         (a)   Executive shall promptly communicate and disclose in writing to
               Company all those inventions and developments including software,
               whether patentable or not, as well as patents and patent
               applications (hereinafter collectively called "Inventions"),
               made, conceived, developed, or purchased by him, or under which
               he acquires the right to grant licenses or to become licensed,
               alone or jointly with others, which have arisen or jointly with
               others, which have arisen or may arise out of his employment, or
               relate to any matters pertaining to, or useful in connection
               therewith, the business or affairs of Company or any of its
               subsidiaries. Included herein as if developed during the
               employment period is any specialized equipment and software
               developed for use in the business of Company. All of Executive's
               right, title and interest in, to, and under all such inventions,
               licenses, and right to grant licenses shall be the sole property
               of Company. Any such inventions disclosed to anyone by Executive
               within one (1) year after the termination of employment for any
               cause whatsoever shall be deemed to have been made or conceived
               by Executive during the Employment Period.

         (b)   As to all such invention, Executive shall, upon request of
               Company:

               i.   Execute all documents which Company shall deem necessary or
                    proper to enable it to establish to title to such inventions
                    or other rights, and to enable it to file and prosecute
                    applications for letters patent of the United States and any
                    foreign country; and

               ii.  Do all things (including the giving of evidence in suits and
                    other proceedings) which Company shall deem necessary or
                    proper to obtain, maintain, or assert patents for any and
                    all such inventions or to assert its rights in any
                    inventions not patented.

     8.  Litigation. Executive agrees that during his employment or thereafter,
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he shall do all things, including the giving of evidence in suits and other
proceedings, which Company shall deem necessary or proper to obtain, maintain or
assert rights accruing to Company during the employment period and in connection
with which Executive has knowledge, information or expertise. All reasonable
expenses incurred by Executive in fulfilling the duties set forth in this
paragraph 8 shall be reimbursed by Company to the full extent legally
appropriate, including, without limitation, a reasonable payment for Executive's
time.

     9.  Modification. No modification, amendment, or waiver of any of the
         ------------
provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing
specifically referring to this Agreement and signed by all parties therefore.

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     10. Entire Agreement. This instrument constitutes the entire agreement of
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the parties hereto with respect to Executive's employment and his compensation
therefore.

     11. Waiver. The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of
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this agreement or to require at any time performance by any party of any of the
provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions
or to affect either the validity of this Agreement, or any part hereof, or the
right of each party thereafter to enforce each and every provision in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

     12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
         ------------
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and
this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or
unenforceable provision were omitted.

     13. Pronouns. As used herein, the term "Executive" and the pronouns
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therefore have been used for convenience only, and corresponding terms
reflecting the proper gender of Executive shall be deemed substituted by the
parties hereto where appropriate.

     14. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
         ----------
benefit of Company and any successor or assign of Company. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the terms "successor or assign" shall mean any person, firm,
corporation, or other business entity which, at any time, whether by merger,
purchase, assignment or otherwise, shall acquire the assets or business
of Company in part or as a whole.

     This Agreement shall also be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
Executive and his legal representatives and assigns, except that Executive's
obligations to perform such future services and rights to receive payment
therefore are hereby expressly declared to be non-assignable and
non-transferable.

     15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and executed in
         -------------
accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                                CENTENE CORPORATION


                                                By     /s/ Michael Neidorff

                                                           "Company"


                                                By     /s/ Brian Spanel

                                                           "Executive"



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