UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel Wednesday in what could be a targeted attack coordinated to the group's annual Investor Day.
Thompson, 50, was named CEO of the UnitedHealth Group (UNH) health-benefits division in 2021, around the same time Andrew Witty took over as group CEO. CNBC has reported he was married with two children.
Thompson was preparing to attend the company's analyst and investors event at a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
CNN reported that Thompson was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital shortly before 7 am local time, where he was pronounced dead by medical officials.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the killing "does not appear to be a random act of violence ... every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack."
BREAKING: man shot in the chest outside Hilton Hotel on 6th Ave around 6:46a. This happened less than 5 blocks from Rockefeller Center, where the tree will be lit tonight. A high profile night in the city where this morning NYPD officers are searching for the shooter @fox5ny pic.twitter.com/CYoRT9zsIs
— Dan Bowens (@danbowensfox5) December 4, 2024
The group, which has been challenged by changes in Medicare payouts as well as a surge in costs tied to increases in post-Covid surgeries, had outlined new profit and revenue forecasts for the coming year ahead of the event.
UnitedHealth stopped its investor presentation amid what it called a "serious event." The group's senior media executives were not immediately available for comment.
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"As some of you may know, we're dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members and, as a result, I'm afraid we're going to have to bring to a close the event today," CEO Witty told the investor event's online broadcast.
"We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time," the group said later in a statement reported by Reuters. "Our hearts go out to Brian's family and all who were close to him."
Prior to his role as UnitedHealthcare CEO, Thompson served as head of its government programs including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State, as well as UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
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UnitedHealth shares were last marked 0.8% higher in Wednesday trading and changing hands at $610.05 each.
The group told investors in its near-term outlook that it sees its medical cost ratio, which captures the gap between collected premiums and medical payouts, to range between 86% and 87% next year, a level that was largely in-line with analysts' estimates.
Health-insurance groups are seeing payouts to policyholders surge as more Americans, typically those in retirement age, find the time and space for elective surgeries in hospitals that were previously overwhelmed by covid patients.
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