Brian Thompson, the chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s insurance division, was fatally shot in New York City on Wednesday morning, the New York Police Department said.
He was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead, the NYPD told Bloomberg News said.
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The company was hosting its investor day Wednesday at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. UnitedHealth executives halted their presentations shortly after 9 a.m.
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A New York police officer walks outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot Wednesday, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (Joe Frederick / AP)
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“We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation” Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty said before abruptly halting the company’s investor day.
The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The hotel is a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center. A spokesperson for the New York Hilton Midtown said “we are deeply saddened by this morning’s events in the area and our thoughts are with all affected by the tragedy.”
NYPD said there are no arrests at this time and the investigation is active and ongoing.
The suspect was described as a white man wearing a cream-colored coat, black and white sneakers, a gray backpack and a black face mask, according to NYPD.
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Thompson, 50, was one of the company’s most senior executives at UnitedHealthcare. He went by the nickname “BT” and regularly presented at investor events and on earnings calls. The insurance unit he oversaw is expected to bring in $280 billion in revenue this year, and is the country’s largest health insurer.
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In 2021, he took over as CEO of the UnitedHealthcare insurance division after joining the company in 2004 and working in finance positions across the business. A certified public accountant, Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in business in 1997. He worked at PwC in the Twin Cities before joining UnitedHealth.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the country and also manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.
Bloomberg News and Reuters News Agency
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
UnitedHealth executive shot to death in New York City
