Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday in what police called a “brazen, targeted attack.” The 50-year-old Thompson was a longtime leader in Corporate America, a model student, and star high school athlete. He was visiting New York for UnitedHealthcare’s annual investors conference before his death.
Thompson was appointed chief executive of UnitedHealthcare in 2021 and had been at the company since 2004. Prior to being named chief executive, he worked as CEO of the company’s government programs business, which includes its Medicare and retirement businesses. UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group, America’s largest insurance company.
Before joining UnitedHealthcare, Thompson worked as a manager and practiced as a CPA at PwC for nearly 7 years. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting, and was a Collegiate Scholar, Carver Scholar, State of Iowa Scholar, and Faculty Scholar.
Thompson was remembered as a beloved leader and friend, according to UnitedHealth Group. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said in a statement.
In May, Thompson was sued for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading. The Hollywood Firefighters’ Pension Fund filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group, CEO Andrew Witty, Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley, and Thompson, alleging the executives schemed to inflate the company’s stock by failing to disclose a US Justice Department antitrust investigation into the company.
The lawsuit claimed Thompson knew about the investigation as early as October 2023 and sold 31% of his company shares, making a $15 million profit, 11 days before the Journal publicized the probe. The revelation of the alleged insider trading led Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to write a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, calling on Chairman Gary Gensler to investigate UnitedHealth for the executives’ stock sales.
Thompson is survived by his wife Paulette and two children. The healthcare industry was shocked and “deeply saddened” by the news of his death, according to Tim Wentworth, the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance.