UnitedHealth Group has added Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, to its board of directors as it seeks to restore shareholder and consumer confidence after a turbulent year.
Gottlieb served as commissioner from 2017 to 2019, where he became known for promoting transparency, strengthening patient safety and widening consumer choice, according to the company’s announcement. He led initiatives to modernize regulations to help foster medical innovation, promote competition in the pharmaceutical market, confront the opioid epidemic and curb youth tobacco use.
“Scott has had an exceptional health care career in both the public and private sectors,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, UnitedHealth Group’s CEO and executive board chairman. “He is an innovator who constantly advocates for a more integrated health care approach supported by the latest technology. We welcome his deep expertise and thought leadership as we strive to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone.”
Gottlieb also has held roles at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and on the Federal Health Information Technology Policy Committee. A practicing physician, he is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a partner at New Enterprise Associates. He also contributes to CNBC and CBS News.
“I look forward to working with UnitedHealth Group to help shape how medical breakthroughs are developed and made accessible to patients who may benefit from them,” he said. “I hope to leverage my experience to support providers in their delivery of care that’s not only more innovative but also more affordable, and that improves outcomes for patients and communities.”
December 4 will mark the one-year anniversary of the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The company also has had to cope with the fallout from a massive cyberattack, federal investigations and public dissatisfaction with some of its business practices. Last month, a shareholder filed a proposal to require an independent board chair distinct from the chief executive officer, roles that were combined when Hemsley returned to lead the company earlier this year.
Meanwhile, UnitedHealth recently revised its annual profit forecast for 2025, raising its outlook to reflect net earnings of at least $14.90 per share and adjusted net earnings of at least $16.25 per share. Third-quarter results reflect the continued execution of its performance agenda, refocus on its mission and culture, and return to sustained growth, the company said.
“We remain focused on strengthening performance and positioning for durable and accelerating growth in 2026 and beyond,” Hemsley said, “and our results this quarter reflect solid execution toward that goal.”
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