UnitedHealth Group has named Brian Thompson as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare, the company’s health benefits business. With 70 million members, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare is the largest U.S. health insurance company in number of covered lives. Thompson joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and most recently was CEO of UnitedHealthcare's Medicare & Retirement business. He has held numerous leadership positions, including chief financial officer for several UnitedHealthcare business units, as well as financial controller for UnitedHealthcare's Employer & Individual business and a director in Corporate Development. Before joining UnitedHealth Group, he was a practicing CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. “Brian’s experience, relationships and values make him especially well-suited to help UnitedHealthcare improve how health care works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners, leading to continued and sustained long-term growth,” said Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group. Thompson was the valedictorian of the Class of 1997 at the University of Iowa, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration, according to his LinkedIn profile.