Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare who was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, was a veteran leader in corporate America, a model student and standout high school athlete – and was involved in a drug use lawsuit. of privileged information this year.
New York police called the CEO’s death a “brazen, targeted attack.”
Who was Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare?
Thompson, 50, lived in Minnesota and was visiting New York for UnitedHealthcare’s annual investor conference before he was killed.
He was named CEO of UnitedHealthcare in 2021 and had been with the company since 2004. It is part of UnitedHealth Group, the largest insurer in the United States.
Before being named CEO of the company, Thompson served as CEO of the company’s government programs division, which includes the Medicare — a U.S. government program — and retirement business.
Before joining UnitedHealthcare in 2004, he worked as a manager and served as a certified public accountant at PwC for almost 7 years.
He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in accounting. He was the class valedictorian, according to his LinkedIn. He was a University Fellow, a Carver Fellow, an Iowa State Fellow, and a Faculty Fellow.
Thompson graduated from South Hamilton High School in Jewell, Iowa, in 1993. He was valedictorian, Heather Holm, superintendent of the South Hamilton Community School District, told CNN.
“During his time at South Hamilton, Brian was an exemplary student, athlete, homecoming king and respected leader. His achievements and character have left a significant legacy in our schools and community,” Holm said in a statement.
“We join all who are mourning in remembering Brian’s life and legacy,” he added.
Thompson is remembered as a leader and dear friend, according to UnitedHealth Group. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the company said in a statement.
Fraud allegations
Brian Thompson was sued in May for alleged fraud and illegal insider trading.
The Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund has filed suit against UnitedHealth Group, CEO Andrew Witty, Executive Chairman Stephen Hemsley and Thompson.
The group alleged that executives planned to inflate the company’s shares by failing to disclose a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation into the company.
UnitedHealth Group announced in 2021 that it would purchase Change Healthcare. The Justice Department sued to undo the deal, but a judge ultimately allowed it to go through.
However, the Wall Street Journal reported in February 2024 that the Justice Department reopened the case, even after the merger, to investigate whether the companies properly established a so-called “firewall” to prevent customer information from flowing between company divisions. fused.
The suit alleged that Thompson had known about the investigation since October 2023 and sold 31% of his shares in the company, making a profit of $15 million, 11 days before the Journal published the investigation.
The report sent UnitedHealth shares down 5%.
The revelation of alleged illegal insider trading prompted Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to write a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, asking Chairman Gary Gensler to investigate UnitedHealth for executives’ stock sales.
The senators highlighted that Thompson would face up to $5 million in fines and 20 years in prison if convicted. “Reports on these negotiations reveal a disturbing pattern. “The timing of these negotiations… raises numerous questions,” the congressmen wrote.
The lawsuit, which remains active, sought a judgment and payment of damages from UnitedHealth and the executives named in the suit, including Thompson.
The Southern District of New York declined to comment on the case. UnitedHealthcare did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
*Kara Scannell, from CNN, contributed to this report
This content originally appeared on Who was Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare shot dead in Manhattan? on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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