UnitedHealth Group Announces Leadership Transition

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) today announced the appointment of Stephen J. Hemsley as its chief executive officer, effective immediately, following Andrew Witty’s decision to step down as CEO for personal reasons. Hemsley, who served as company CEO from 2006-2017, will remain chairman of the company’s Board of Directors and Witty will serve as a senior adviser to Hemsley.

“We are grateful for Andrew’s stewardship of UnitedHealth Group, especially during some of the most challenging times any company has ever faced,” Hemsley said. “The Board and I have greatly valued his leadership and compassion as chief executive and as a director and wish him and his family the best.

“UnitedHealth Group has tremendous opportunities to grow as we continue to help improve health care and to perform to our potential — and, in so doing, return to our long-term growth objective of 13 to 16 percent,” Hemsley continued.

“Leading the people of UnitedHealth Group has been a tremendous honor as they work every day to improve the health system, and they will continue to inspire me,” Witty said.

“Steve Hemsley brings a combination of strategic vision and deep operational focus that are highly valuable to our company,” said Michele Hooper, lead independent director of UnitedHealth Group.

Hemsley joined UnitedHealth Group as chief operating officer in 1997 and became president in 1999. He became Board chair in 2017.

Additionally, the company suspended its 2025 outlook as care activity continued to accelerate while also broadening to more types of benefit offerings than seen in the first quarter, and the medical costs of many Medicare Advantage beneficiaries new to UnitedHealthcare remained higher than expected.

The company expects to return to growth in 2026.