Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death Wednesday outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, the place the corporate was internet hosting an investor day.
Thompson, 50, was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealth Group’s insurance coverage arm, in April 2021. He first joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and had beforehand served as CEO of the corporate’s authorities applications, together with Medicare and retiree protection, and group and state applications offering Medicaid and different varieties of protection to hundreds of thousands of people.
In his most up-to-date function as CEO of UnitedHealthcare, he was accountable for main progress throughout the corporate’s world, employer, particular person, specialty and authorities advantages companies, in line with a 2021 firm statement saying his appointment.
UnitedHealth Group
“Brian’s expertise, relationships and values make him particularly well-suited to assist UnitedHealthcare enhance how well being care works for shoppers, physicians, employers, governments and our different companions, resulting in continued and sustained long-term progress,” UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty mentioned on the time.
Thompson held different positions over his 20 years on the firm, together with chief monetary officer for UnitedHealthcare’s Employer and Individual, Community and State and Medicare and Retirement companies. He additionally served because the monetary controller for UnitedHealthcare’s Employer and Individual enterprise and was a director within the firm’s company improvement division.
A low-key CEO
For a high govt at a $562 billion firm that impacts how hundreds of thousands of Americans get well being care, Thompson saved a comparatively low profile. At an investor assembly final yr, he outlined UnitedHealth’s shift to “value-based care,” paying medical doctors and different caregivers to maintain sufferers wholesome, somewhat than specializing in treating them once they get sick.
“Health care needs to be simpler for individuals,” Thompson mentioned on the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future by way of value-based care unlocks a state of affairs the place the … household would not need to make the choices on their very own.”
In 2023, Thompson earned complete compensation of $10.2 million, in line with a disclosure by UnitedHealth Group.
Before becoming a member of UnitedHealth Group, Thompson labored as a licensed public accountant at accounting agency PwC, in line with his biography on networking web site LinkedIn. Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration and most not too long ago resided in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Following the capturing, UnitedHealthcare canceled its Wednesday assembly with Wall Street analysts and traders, which Thompson had been scheduled to attend.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked on the passing of our pricey buddy and colleague Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare,” UnitedHealth Group mentioned in an announcement. “Brian was a extremely revered colleague and buddy to all who labored with him. We are working carefully with the New York Police Department and ask on your endurance and understanding throughout this tough time. Our hearts exit to Brian’s household and all who have been near him.”
On LinkedIn, former colleagues described Thompson as an “affable” and “fashionable” chief.
“BT was whip-smart and affable — a man who might grasp the complexities of well being care and clarify them in easy, relatable phrases true to his Iowa upbringing,” said Matt Burns, who served as vice chairman of communications at UnitedHealth Group from 2015 to 2018.
Thompson is survived by his spouse, Paulette Thompson, and two sons.
“We are shattered to listen to concerning the mindless killing of our beloved Brian,” Thompson’s spouse mentioned in an announcement supplied to CBS News by her sister. “Brian was an extremely loving, beneficiant, proficient man who actually lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an extremely loving father to our two sons and will likely be vastly missed. We admire your effectively needs and request full privateness as our household strikes by way of this tough time.”
Minnesota leaders categorical shock
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey additionally weighed in on Thompson’s dying. “This is a stunning and devastating loss for our complete group. ‘Shocking’ is the one phrase I can discover for the time being,” he mentioned in an announcement to CBS MoneyWatch.
He added in a publish on social media that Thompson was “an ideal man.”
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar expressed her condolences for Thompson’s household and for United Healthcare staff within the state, calling the capturing “a horrifying and stunning act of violence” in a post on X.
In his personal post, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz referred to as Thompson’s dying “a horrible loss for the enterprise and well being care group in Minnesota.”
contributed to this report.
