UnitedHealth Group has named Patrick Conway, MD, current Optum Rx CEO, as the new CEO of Optum, effective May 6.
Current Optum CEO, Heather Cianfrocco, has been named UnitedHealth’s executive vice president of governance, compliance and information security after serving in her role for just over one year.
Dr. Conway has served in various leadership roles at UnitedHealth since 2020 and was named CEO of pharmacy benefit manager Optum Rx in 2023. He was president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina from 2017 to 2019 and served in several top positions at CMS under the Obama administration, including chief medical officer, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and acting administrator.
Ms. Cianfrocco joined UnitedHealth Group in 2008 as vice president of network operations in the Pittsburgh area and was named CEO of Optum in 2024. She has also previously worked across several UnitedHealthcare divisions, including Medicaid, Medicare and clinical strategy. She led Optum Health starting in 2020, became CEO of Optum Rx in 2021, and was named president of Optum in 2023. Ms. Cianfrocco is an attorney by trade.
Andrew Witty has served as UnitedHealth Group’s CEO since 2021, John Rex has been president and CFO since April 2024, and Tim Noel has been CEO of UnitedHealthcare since January 2025. Optum Health is led by Amar Desai, MD, and Optum Insight is led by Roger Connor.