Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth's UNH.N insurance unit, was fatally shot on Wednesday morning outside a midtown Manhattan hotel just before a scheduled company investor conference, the company said in a statement.
The shooting occurred around 6:40 a.m. local time outside the Hilton on Sixth Avenue, where the meeting was taking place. Thompson was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police were still searching for the masked suspect. A police poster offering a reward for information about the shooting shows surveillance stills of a man wearing a gray-colored jacket and a black sweater on a bicycle, and another photo of the individual appearing to be pointing a gun.
"Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," UnitedHealth Group said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.”
The attack appeared to be targeted, the New York Times reported, citing police. Investigators believe the gunman had been waiting in the area for some time before Thompson's arrival ahead of an investors meeting, CNN reported.
The shooting happened not long before a scheduled UnitedHealth investor conference in Manhattan, which was cut short at about 9 a.m., roughly an hour after it kicked off as news of the shooting trickled out.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest U.S. health insurer, providing benefits to tens of millions of Americans, who pay more for healthcare than in any other country.
UnitedHealth Group Chief Executive Andrew Witty took the stage at the Hilton about one hour after the event started to announce the cancellation.
"We're dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members, and as a result, I'm afraid we're going to have to bring to a close the event today," he said.
UnitedHealth did not respond to a request for comment.
Police tape blocked off the area on 54th Street outside the Hilton on Wednesday morning, where blue plastic gloves were strewn about and plastic cups appeared to mark the location of several bullet casings.
"The police were here in seconds. It’s New York. It’s not normal here at 7 in the morning but it’s pretty scary," said Christian Diaz, who said he heard the gunfire from the nearby University Club Hotel where he works.
Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, where the company is based, said in a statement that the state was sending prayers to Thompson's family and the United Healthcare team.
"This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota," he said.
Thompson was named UnitedHealthcare CEO in April 2021 after working at the company since 2004 in several departments, according to the company's web site.
"Sometimes you meet a lot of fake people in these corporate environments, he certainly didn't ever give me the impression of being one of them," said Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of healthcare research non-profit 46brooklyn, who knew Thompson. "He was a genuinely thoughtful and respectable guy."
Consumer frustration with the U.S. healthcare system runs high and was the driving force behind the U.S. Affordable Care Act, which created a new type of health insurance and mandated coverage for preventative care as well as maximum profit levels.
A cyberhack early in 2024 by another UnitedHealth company called Change that provided technology for most U.S. providers affected more than one third of Americans, who had their information stolen.
Millions of providers experienced disruption in their businesses that lasted months, delaying care for patients and even salaries for healthcare employees.
