Optum's leadership shakeup: 19 recent exec moves

UnitedHealth Group's Optum has been shaking up its leadership as some executives get promoted to new positions, while others have left the company for other healthcare ventures. 

Editor's note: This article was upated on Nov. 16 and will continue to be updated.

Here are 19 recent leadership and executive moves from Optum since Feb. 2:

  1. Neil de Crescenzo, former CEO at Change Healthcare, departed as CEO of Optum's data and analytics arm after less than a year. He was replaced by Roger Connor, UnitedHealth Group's executive vice president of enterprise operations and services.

  2. Cheryl Knaut, CEO of Optum's payment integrity, retired at the beginning of October. 

  3. Heather Cianfrocco was named president of UnitedHealth Group's Optum.

  4.  Amar Desai, MD, was named CEO of Optum Health.

  5. Kristi Henderson, DNP, left her executive roles at Optum to helm Confluent Health, a family of physical and occupational therapy companies based in Louisville, Ky.

  6. Dennis Chornenky was named chief artificial intelligence adviser of UC Davis Health, based in Sacramento, Calif. He previously served as senior vice president and chief AI officer of Optum Health. 

  7. Jessica Kral was named CIO of digital health company Modivcare. Ms. Kral served in various IT-focused roles at UnitedHealth Group including CIO at Optum home and community. 

  8. Jason McCarthy, PharmD, was named chief pharmacy officer of Corewell Health, based in Grand Rapids and Southfield, Mich. He previously served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx Home Infusion Division.

  9. Michael Le, MD, former chief medical officer of Optum Home and Community, has left the company to join physician-led public benefit company WelbeHealth. Dr. Le served as chief medical officer of Optum from December 2021 to March 2023, accoridng to his LinkedIn.

  10. Susan Arthur has been named president of Optum Global Advantage. Ms. Arthur served as COO of Optum Insight from September 2019 to July 2021, according to LinkedIn. She became president of the global division in May.

  11. Jason McCarthy, PharmD, who previously served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx Home Infusion Division, left the role to join Corewell Health, based in Grand Rapids and Southfield, Mich., as its new chief pharmacy officer.
     
  12. Kathy Weiler left her role as Optum's chief consumer officer to join Amwell. Ms. Weiler will now serve as executive vice president and chief commercial and growth officer for Amwell. 

  13. Peter Kelly was promoted to CEO of Optum Health's Mid-Atlantic region.

  14. Genevieve Morris was named vice president of interoperability strategy for Optum's medical network group.

  15. David Frankenfield, former vice president of enterprise data and analytics at Optum, left his role to join health tech company Amplify Health Asia. Mr. Frankenfield will serve as Amplify Health's chief data and analytics officer.

  16. Nick Snoply, who previously served as CAO for the American Health Network at Optum, left the role to join GuideWell subsidiary PopHealthCare as its chief administrative officer.

  17. Caitlin Zulla was promoted to CEO of Optum Health's east region. Prior to this, Ms. Zulla spent more than three years as CEO of SCA Health, a surgery center chain owned by Optum.

  18. Elaine Birkemeyer, who previously served as Optum's CFO of care solutions, left the company to join in-home care technology company Tactile Medical as its new CFO.

  19. Phil McKoy, Optum's CIO, took on a new position as Optum's new enterprise lead. In this role, Mr. McKoy will be responsible for enterprise shared services as well as enterprise integration services.

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