UnitedHealthcare’s New CEO Reflects on Tragedy, Challenges Ahead

Tim Noel knows his new job as UnitedHealthcare CEO isn’t going to be much like his predecessor’s role.

Noel was promoted to the position previously held by Brian Thompson, who was killed in an early morning shooting in December on his way to a UnitedHealth investor conference in Manhattan. Thompson’s death prompted a social media outcry about health insurers denying care, causing Noel to look inward about his job and industry.

“I think everyone did some level of soul-searching over that period of time, I certainly did,” he said in his first media interview since taking on the ...