UnitedHealth Group announced a sudden leadership change on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, with Andrew Witty stepping down as CEO for unspecified ‘personal reasons.’ Stephen J. Hemsley, who previously served as CEO from 2006 to 2017, will return to the role and remain chairman of the board. Witty will continue as a senior adviser to Hemsley, according to a company news release.
The unexpected change comes as UnitedHealth faces intense scrutiny over the health insurance industry’s practices and ongoing investigations by the Justice Department into its business activities. The company’s stock price plummeted more than 17% on Tuesday, closing at $311.38 per share. This represents a significant drop from its recent high of $630.73 in November, with the stock being part of the 30-company Dow Jones Industrial Average.
UnitedHealth also announced the suspension of its annual outlook for 2025, citing the need to incorporate ‘more types of benefit offerings than seen in the first quarter’ and higher-than-expected medical costs for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries new to UnitedHealthcare. The company expressed confidence in returning to growth in 2026.
The leadership change follows a tragic event in December when United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in a premeditated attack in midtown Manhattan. Luigi Mangione, now 27, was arrested in connection with the shooting and faces federal and state charges, including murder and terrorism charges in New York. If convicted of the federal charges, Mangione could face the death penalty.
This series of events has put UnitedHealth under intense public and regulatory scrutiny, making the company’s leadership transition particularly noteworthy.
