UnitedHealth Group Announces New Leadership Roles
August 16 2017 - 6:50AM
Business Wire
- David Wichmann, president since
2014, to become CEO effective Sept. 1, 2017
- Stephen Hemsley, current CEO, to
become executive chairman of the board of directors
- Richard Burke, current board
chairman, to become lead independent director
- Company continues on strategic path
providing higher value in health care and delivering sustainable
growth
The board of directors of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH)
announced that David S. Wichmann, president of UnitedHealth Group,
will succeed Stephen J. Hemsley as chief executive officer and
become a director of the company, effective Sept. 1, 2017. On the
same date, Hemsley will take the newly created role of executive
chairman of the board of directors; current board chairman, Richard
Burke, will become lead independent director. These changes are
designed to ensure continuity as the company continues to grow and
evolve. The company will continue on its strategic path to improve
health care quality for the customers and care providers it serves.
UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to high performance and value in
health care will drive sustainable growth in 2017, 2018 and
beyond.
Hemsley, age 65, said, “This is the right time for this
transition to take place, as the company is performing strongly and
has a positive outlook for the foreseeable future, and Dave
Wichmann is the right choice to succeed as CEO for that future.
With nearly 20 years of service to the company, Dave has the
business and leadership skills, enterprise knowledge and support,
broad health care experience, and deep expertise in areas that are
critical to our future – especially growth-oriented technology,
operations and global markets. He is the right person to lead
UnitedHealth Group through the continuing evolution of health care.
I look forward to continuing to help drive the mission, growth,
quality, performance and development of this enterprise in my new
role as, together, we continue to improve health and health care
for the people we serve, while providing consistent returns to
shareholders.”
Wichmann, age 54, has deep experience across UnitedHealth
Group’s businesses, having joined the company in 1998. He served as
chief financial officer from 2011 until mid-2016, has been
president of UnitedHealth Group and has overseen UnitedHealthcare,
the company’s benefits business, since 2014. Wichmann has directed
UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise-wide operations and technology
efforts and has led external development, M&A and integration
activities at the company, assessing important acquisitions and
prospects, building partnerships within and outside the company. He
has been a major force in the company’s successful innovation and
diversification efforts. Wichmann currently leads the company’s
activities in Brazil, among other global markets, experience
essential for building out the “third leg” of UnitedHealth Group’s
long-term growth strategy. Wichmann is a champion of UnitedHealth
Group’s culture, mission, and values of integrity, compassion,
innovation, relationships and performance.
“Helping to guide this enterprise, with its extraordinary
people, purpose and capabilities, is a distinct yet humbling
honor,” Wichmann said. “We are fortunate to have an exceptional
organization, a deep and talented leadership team, and highly
dedicated people. I am grateful for the ongoing support from Steve,
Richard, the board, Vice Chairman Larry Renfro and our entire
senior leadership team, as our company continues to execute on our
mission to better serve our customers, our shareholders and all
other participants in the health care system. Health care will
continue to change, but this is an enterprise built for change:
innovative, adaptable and consumer-centric.”
Richard Burke said, “Stability, growth and innovation have been
hallmarks of this company over its history. Today’s action is the
culmination of almost four years of discussion, careful planning,
leadership development and execution. Dave Wichmann was one of
Steve Hemsley’s first hires at our company and has been preparing
for the CEO role for many years. As executive chairman, Steve will
have substantial responsibilities, and be fully engaged in the
company’s ongoing affairs and long-term direction. We expect these
changes will maximize the contributions of Steve, Dave, the board
and our senior management team significantly into the future.”
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) is a diversified health and
well-being company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives
and helping make the health system work better for everyone.
UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services
through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides
health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which
provides information and technology-enabled health services. For
more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on
Twitter.
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Group.
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UnitedHealth GroupInvestors:Brett Manderfeld, 952-936-7216Vice
PresidentJohn S. Penshorn, 952-936-7214Senior Vice
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