Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, was found fatally shot Wednesday morning in Midtown Manhattan. The shooting, details of which were first reported by the New York Post, occurred while Thompson was outside the Hilton Hotel, where he had arrived early for a conference, and a masked man shot him in the chest. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Police Investigation Underway — No Arrests So Far
No one has yet been arrested, officials said, and the investigation remains active. The assailant had on a mask and was carrying a backpack. He fled into a nearby alley after the shooting and disappeared.
UnitedHealthcare Has Not Weighed In
There’s been no formal comment from UnitedHealthcare on what happened. The shooting has left the community reeling, and police are continuing to search for the suspect.
Thompson’s Career at UnitedHealthcare
Brian Thompson joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and has served as CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021. He had headed government programs like Medicare and served in multiple senior positions. He previously served as a manager at PwC and holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Iowa.
Details are still emerging, but this tragedy has shocked many as the investigations proceed.
Who Was Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson has been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since April 2021. As of 2004, he has served in various leadership roles at UnitedHealth Group — including CFO for Employer & Individual, Community & State, and Medicare & Retirement divisions.
Prior to becoming CEO, Thompson oversaw UnitedHealthcare’s government programs, including Medicare & Retirement and Community & State businesses.
He was a Manager in the Transaction Advisory Services team at PwC from 2002 to 2004 and an Audit Manager from 1997 to 2002.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from the University of Iowa. He was class valedictorian and received the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key for the highest GPA. He was named Outstanding Accounting Junior and Senior by the Iowa Society of CPAs while studying there.
