UnitedHealthcare Announces New C.E.O.

UnitedHealthcare named a longtime employee, Tim Noel, on Thursday as its new chief executive, replacing Brian Thompson, who was killed last month in a shooting in Manhattan.

Mr. Noel was the head of Medicare and Retirement at UnitedHealthcare, the insurance unit of UnitedHealth Group, where he has worked since 2007, the company said in a statement.

The former chief executive, Brian Thompson, was shot and killed outside a Hilton hotel in Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4. A 26-year-old man, Luigi Mangione, was arrested in Altoona, Pa., five days later and charged with Mr. Thompson’s murder. Neither Mr. Mangione nor his parents were UnitedHealthcare customers, but he was carrying a brief statement when he was arrested that seemed to take responsibility for the shooting and that criticized what it called the health care industry’s “corruption” and “power games.”

Mr. Mangione faces three murder charges in Manhattan, including first-degree murder, as well as charges in Pennsylvania and federal charges. He is expected to appear in court again in February.

UnitedHealthcare, based in Minnesota, is one of the nation’s largest health insurers, covering more than 50 million people. UnitedHealth Group had revenues of about $400 billion and net earnings of more than $15 billion in 2024.

The company said of Mr. Noel, “He brings unparalleled experience to this role with a proven track record and strong commitment to improving how health care works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners.”