The Costa Mesa, California offices of Optum, UnitedHealth's health care delivery and health care support services unit. Credit: Shutterstock
The leader of UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s Optum Health care delivery unit has left the role, an early indication of management changes under Stephen Hemsley, UnitedHealth’s new chief executive officer.
The division will now be led by Patrick Conway, who was recently promoted to CEO of the broader Optum division that includes Optum Health. Conway will add the title of Optum Health CEO, according to a company memo reviewed by Bloomberg News.
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Amar Desai had been CEO of Optum Health since 2023. He’ll become president of Optum integrated care and vice-chairman of Optum Health, according to the memo, and will continue to work with Conway and Hemsley. Desai didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Optum Health, which includes clinics and surgery centers, brought in about $105 billion in revenue in 2024. Until recently, it was the fastest growing source of profits for UnitedHealth.
A UnitedHealth spokesperson said the changes “are consistent with the company’s longstanding, intentional approach to develop an executive team with a range of experiences” across its businesses.
The departure is an early sign of management changes under Hemsley, the chairman and former CEO who returned to the top job after UnitedHealth stunned Wall Street by pulling its financial guidance last month. He said at a recent shareholder meeting that changes in the operating units were underway “to ensure we have the right leadership in place going forward.”
Krista Nelson, who most recently led the company’s Medicaid insurance segment, became chief operating officer of the Optum Health division. Jon Mahrt, a longtime executive in the Optum Rx pharmacy business, has been promoted to CEO of Optum Rx, according to the company, taking over the role Conway previously held.
Revenue and profit at Optum Health both declined in the first quarter of 2025 compared to a year ago, according to a company filing, with operating earnings dropping 15%. The segment, which cares for millions of private Medicare Advantage health plan members in insurance-like arrangements, has been under pressure from changes in federal payment.
UnitedHealth’s stock was little changed at the close of trading on Thursday. The shares have declined 40% this year.
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