Andrew Witty unexpectedly resigned as CEO of UnitedHealth Group, citing personal reasons for his departure. His tenure was marked by significant turmoil, including a massive data breach affecting approximately 100 million individuals and the tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . These events not only raised concerns about executive safety but also contributed to declining investor confidence and a notable decrease in the company's share prices by 16%.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year. UnitedHealthcare is a unit of the parent company that Witty helmed.
Thompson’s fatal shooting outside a New York hotel brought to light significant public outrage about the health insurance industry, with Witty publicly acknowledging in a New York Times essay that the US health system “is not perfect” and that coverage decisions “are not well understood.”
Witty also defended UnitedHealthcare, the company’s health insurance arm, though he acknowledged that it shares some of the responsibility for the lack of understanding about decisions on care.
The massive health care conglomerate is one of the largest companies in the world — and, recently, one of the most publicly troubled. It owns Change Healthcare, a payments processor used by hospitals, doctors and pharmacists. A massive cyberattack last year paralyzed swaths of the entire U.S. health care system, affecting an estimated 100 million people.
In December, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in what police described as a “premeditated, preplanned targeted attack” in midtown Manhattan as he was walking to an investors’ conference. 
Luigi Mangione, now 27, was arrested after a five-day manhunt at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The resignation has prompted speculation regarding the underlying factors influencing Witty's decision. Analysts suggest that a combination of heightened safety concerns and dissatisfaction with financial performance may have played a role in this abrupt leadership change . The company’s suspension of its profit outlook for 2025 further exacerbated uncertainties surrounding its future financial health. In light of these challenges, former CEO Stephen J. Hemsley has returned to lead the organization in an effort to restore stability and address rising medical costs within Medicare Advantage plans.
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