Who is Andrew Witty? Video of UnitedHealth Group CEO’s statement on continuing to prevent “unnecessary care” surfaces post-Brian Thompson death

Following the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, comments by Andrew Witty, the CEO of its parent company, UnitedHealth Group (UHG), defending the company’s denial practices have gone viral. The clip, first shared by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein on X on Friday, December 6, 2024, features Witty telling his employees:

"We make sure that care is safe, appropriate, and is delivered when people need it and we guard against the pressures that exist for unsafe or unnecessary care to be delivered in a way that makes the whole system too complex and ultimately unsustainable"

Per Klippenstein, the footage was leaked to him. He added that it was part of Witty's address to his employees just days after Thompson's death.

On December 4, Thompson was fatally shot outside a hotel in Manhattan. Investigating officials reported that shell casings from the shooting had the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" written on them. The words are frequently used by critics to describe how insurers deny claims.

The incident has since sparked a discourse on how insurance companies evaluate claims, especially UnitedHealthcare, which many on social media allege has the highest claim-denial rate in the industry.

Referencing the negative criticism UnitedHealthcare garnered, Andrew Witty stated that they (the company) would always put their patients, consumers, and members first, adding:

"The mission of this company is truly to make sure we help the system improve by helping the experience for individuals get better and better. There was no one who did more to try advance that mission than Brian Thompson."

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Andrew Witty was knighted in 2012 for services to the economy and the U.K. pharmaceutical industry

Andrew Witty is a British business executive hailing from Buckinghamshire. He attended the Malbank School (originally the Nantwich and Acton Grammar School). He then earned a degree in economics from the University of Nottingham, a public research university. The executive served as the chancellor of his alma mater from 2013 to 2017.

Witty began his career working as a management trainee with Glaxo UK in 1985. Over the years, he held various positions at the company, including director of pharmacy & distribution at Glaxo Pharmaceuticals UK. In January 2003, he was appointed the president of GlaxoSmithKline Europe and eventually became the company's CEO in May 2008, succeeding Jean-Pierre Garnier.

Through his tenure as the CEO, Andrew Witty focused on changing the pricing of GSK pharmaceuticals to make them more affordable in low-income countries.

Andrew Witty stepped down from his position in 2017, briefly leading the National Health Service’s Accelerated Access Collaborative. In July 2018, Witty became the CEO of Optum, a division of UnitedHealth Group. A year later, he was appointed as the president of UHG. He remained CEO of Optum until February 2021, when he became UHG's CEO.

Witty married Caroline Hall, and they share two children.

According to his profile on CEO Today, Andrew Witty has reportedly maintained strong relationships with various politicians throughout his career. This includes serving as the economic adviser to the governor of Guangzhou, China, from 2000 to 2002 and serving on the business advisory board to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron from 2010 to 2015.

Owing to his services to the economy and the UK pharmaceutical industry, Andrew Witty was knighted in the 2012 New Year Honours. Additionally, he was named an Honorary Citizen of Singapore in 2018 and serves on the country's Prime Minister’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise Council.

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On Monday, law enforcement authorities in Pennsylvania arrested Luigi Mangione in connection with Brian Thompson's murder. Luigi is charged with five felony counts, including murder in the second degree, weapon possession charges, and forgery. He is held without bail in Pennsylvania.