UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty Steps Down Amid Turmoil, Hemsley Returns as Interim Leader

In a surprise shake-up, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty has stepped down effective immediately, citing “personal reasons,” the company confirmed Tuesday. Former CEO and current board chair Stephen Hemsley will step back in to lead the company as it tries to steady the ship after a rough stretch.

Witty’s exit comes at a tense moment. He took over the top job four years ago and helped steer the company through some of its most chaotic moments—including the high-profile and tragic murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year. More recently, UnitedHealth has come under fire for rising Medicare Advantage costs and confusing coverage decisions, which Witty acknowledged in a New York Times essay that went viral. He admitted the system “is not perfect,” and even conceded that the company hasn’t done a great job helping people understand how their healthcare decisions are made.

Meanwhile, the financial picture is looking shaky. UnitedHealth just pulled its 2025 outlook, warning of unexpected spikes in costs. Investors didn’t take that lightly—shares dropped nearly 11% Tuesday morning, following last month’s massive selloff after Witty called the company’s performance “unacceptable.” With Hemsley stepping in, the message is clear: this is a reset. But whether it’s enough to rebuild trust and calm Wall Street nerves remains to be seen.