Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare shot and killed by a masked gunman successful Manhattan Wednesday greeting extracurricular a Hilton Hotel, had been astatine the helm of the security elephantine since April 2021, according to the company’s website.
Thompson, 50, was connected his mode to hosting an investors league astatine the edifice erstwhile a masked gunman successful a hoodie snuck up down him and changeable him successful the backmost successful what NYPD officials said was a targeted attack. The fishy remains astatine large.
The emergence of a CEO
Long earlier his emergence to the apical of UnitedHealthcare, the Minnesota-based aesculapian security elephantine with current assets valued astatine $284 billion, Thompson began astatine the institution successful 2004, moving connected mergers and acquisitions.
He went connected to go main fiscal serviceman for UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, Community & State and Medicare & Retirement, past main enforcement serviceman of the Medicare & Retirement division.
Just earlier becoming CEO, Thompson was main enforcement serviceman of the company’s authorities programs. That part included Medicare and authorities programs designed to supply attraction to the uninsured.
Legal challenges arsenic CEO
Thompson’s stint arsenic caput of UnitedHealthcare has not been without controversy, however.
Last month, the Justice Department, on with the attorneys wide of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, filed a civilian antitrust lawsuit to forestall the security company’s acquisition of Louisiana-based location wellness and hospice services institution Amedisys Inc.
The projected takeover, with an connection of $3.3 billion, would person destroyed contention betwixt the 2 companies, according to the Justice Department.
“We are challenging this merger due to the fact that location wellness and hospice patients and their families experiencing immoderate of the astir hard moments of their lives merit affordable, precocious prime attraction options,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department volition not hesitate to cheque unlawful consolidation and monopolization successful the healthcare marketplace that threatens to harm susceptible patients, their families, and wellness attraction workers.”
Last year, a class enactment lawsuit was filed against UnitedHealthcare successful United States District Court alleging “illegal deployment of artificial quality (AI) successful spot of existent aesculapian professionals to wrongfully contradict aged patients care,” according to the complaint.
The suit claims the exertion was utilized arsenic an overriding 2nd opinion, and has a 90% mistake rate.
Before and Beyond UnitedHealthcare
Thompson, 50, lived with his household successful Minnesota, adjacent to UnitedHealthcare’s office successful Minnetonka, Minn.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Thompson graduated arsenic valedictorian from the University of Iowa successful 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting, and worked astatine accounting steadfast Pricewaterhouse Coopers from 1997-2004.
When reached by phone, his mother-in-law, Paulette Reveiz, told the Daily News his household was stunned.
“The lone happening I tin accidental is he’s a good man. I can’t accidental thing else,” said Reveiz. “We’re inactive successful shock.”
Thompson’s member declined to comment.
UnitedHealth Group issued a connection astir Thompson’s execution Wednesday morning.
“We are profoundly saddened and shocked astatine the passing of our beloved person and workfellow Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Brian was a highly respected workfellow and person to each who worked with him. We are moving intimately with the New York Police Department and inquire for your patience and knowing during this hard time. Our hearts spell retired to Brian’s household and each who were adjacent to him.”