UnitedHealth’s New CEO Sees Better Blending of Key Units Ahead

UnitedHealth Group Inc.’s new leader sees plenty of room for growth ahead by better coordinating the company’s widespread health-care units, boosting its technology services and possibly expanding its business abroad.

Chief Executive Officer Andrew Witty, speaking at the Barclays Global Healthcare conference, said he sees “significant untapped potential” in bringing together the two arms of its business: UnitedHealthcare, which is the largest U.S. medical insurer, and the Optum division that includes pharmacy benefits, data and technology, and one of the country’s largest collection of doctors.

Andrew Witty

Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg

Witty, in his first public appearance since becoming CEO last month, said ...