UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, where the company was hosting an investor day. The 50-year-old CEO took the charge in April 2021.
He first joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and had previously served as CEO of the company’s government programs, including Medicare and retiree coverage, and community and state programs providing Medicaid and other types of coverage to millions of individuals, CBS News reported.
As the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was responsible for leading growth across the company’s global, employer, individual, speciality and government benefits businesses, as per a 2021 company statement announcing his appointment. In over 20 years with the company, he served as the chief financial officer for UnitedHealthcare’s Employer and Individual, Community and State and Medicare and Retirement businesses. He also served as the financial controller for UnitedHealthcare’s Employer and Individual business and was a director in the company’s corporate development division.
“Brian’s experience, relationships and values make him especially well-suited to help UnitedHealthcare improve how healthcare works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners, leading to continued and sustained long-term growth,” UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty had said earlier.
Before taking the role, Thompson worked as a certified public accountant at accounting firm PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and most recently resided in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife, Paulette Thompson, and two sons.