UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Job Listing Sparks Controversy Following Brian Thompson’s Passing

Viral social media claims allege that UnitedHealthcare posted a job listing for a new CEO one day after the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Thompson, the company’s CEO and a key figure in the health insurance sector, was shot dead on December 4 while attending an investor conference. Authorities are currently searching for the assailant.

In the wake of Thompson’s death, a TikTok video garnered attention, asserting that UnitedHealthcare had listed a job for a new CEO on LinkedIn within 24 hours of the incident. This claim was echoed by another TikTok suggesting the posting was also available on Indeed.

The purported job opening described a full-time, remote position based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, with an annual salary between $300,000 and $450,000. However, this claim has raised skepticism among viewers, prompting questions about the timing of such a listing following a tragic event.

Upon investigation, it was confirmed that UnitedHealthcare did not post a job listing for a new CEO immediately after Thompson’s death. The company is a major component of UnitedHealth Group, where Thompson had dedicated 20 years of service, becoming CEO in April 2021 after leading the Medicare and retirement segment.

According to a check conducted on December 6, there were no listings for a CEO position on UnitedHealthcare’s LinkedIn, Indeed, or its official careers website shortly after the shooting. Additionally, the claimed salary range is notably lower than Thompson’s reported earnings of $10.2 million in his last year.

Experts in executive recruitment also weight in on the matter. Peter Deragon, a managing director at Stanton Chase, stated that most companies do not publicly advertise for CEO positions. Instead, high-level executives typically attract interest through networks rather than job boards. Liz Ryan, CEO of Human Workplace, corroborated this analysis, underscoring that executives commonly secure roles through personal connections rather than traditional job applications.

Attempts to obtain a comment from UnitedHealthcare were unsuccessful by the time of publication. The Associated Press contributed to this report.