UnitedHealth Group said Andrew Witty stepped down as CEO for “personal reasons,” effective May 12, 2025, and appointed former CEO Stephen J. Hemsley to replace him immediately. Witty was to remain as a senior adviser. The company separately said it was suspending its 2025 financial outlook because it expected higher medical expenditures; it did not say those costs caused Witty’s departure.
Who replaced Andrew Witty as UnitedHealth Group CEO?
Stephen J. Hemsley took over as CEO effective May 12, 2025, according to the company’s SEC filing. UnitedHealth Group announced the change on May 13 and said Witty would serve as a senior adviser to Hemsley. UnitedHealth Group’s announcement and its May 14, 2025 Form 8-K document the transition.
Hemsley was returning to the top operational role: he had been UnitedHealth Group’s CEO from 2006 through 2017. The company said he joined in 1997 as chief operating officer, became president in 1999 and was named board chair in 2017.
Why did Witty leave?
The company said Witty decided to step down for “personal reasons.” Neither the announcement nor the SEC filing identified a more specific reason. The available statements do not establish a connection between his departure and the company’s medical-cost outlook.
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Why did UnitedHealth suspend its 2025 outlook?
UnitedHealth Group said it expected higher medical expenditures than anticipated. Its announcement cited accelerating care activity, a broader range of benefit offerings and higher-than-expected costs for many Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who were new to UnitedHealthcare.
Those pressures were disclosed at the same time as the CEO transition, but the company presented them as the reason for suspending its outlook—not as the reason Witty left. The Associated Press reported that Hemsley told investors, “I’m deeply disappointed in and apologize for the performance setbacks we have encountered from both external and internal challenges.” He also said, “Many of the issues standing in the way of achieving our goals as well as our opportunities are largely within our control.” Both remarks were reported from the May 13, 2025 conference call. The Associated Press report provides contemporaneous coverage.
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In May 2025, the company said it expected to return to growth in 2026 and stated a long-term growth objective of 13% to 16%. These were company expectations and objectives at the time, not confirmed results.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did Hemsley’s return mean for company leadership?
Hemsley brought prior executive experience and institutional knowledge, offering continuity at a time the company said it faced operational challenges. At the same time, he held both the CEO and board chair roles after the transition, concentrating the two leadership positions in one person.
In its 2026 proxy statement, UnitedHealth Group’s board said Hemsley’s appointment prompted a departure from its long-standing practice of separating the CEO and chair roles. The board characterized the arrangement as a response to extraordinary circumstances, said it did not intend to continue it indefinitely, and cited Hemsley’s experience and institutional knowledge as suited to the company’s situation at the time. The proxy also describes succession planning as an ongoing board focus. These are the board’s stated rationale and position, not an independent assessment. UnitedHealth Group’s 2026 proxy statement sets out that governance context.
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