Good morning.
There are many shocking elements about the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of Manhattan yesterday – from how the attacker stalked him to the fact that suspect on the run has yet to be caught. Whether the killer was a disgruntled customer, a hitman for hire or motivated by something else entirely remains to be seen. What a sad day for his family, his colleagues and everyone else who knew him.
Two other things struck me as particularly disturbing. First is the reaction to Thompson’s death on social media. Amidst the usual RIP messages was a wave of vitriol, contempt and dehumanization of Thompson. See the comments on this YouTube video or reaction to this reddit post.
We are all used to trolls. What seems different is the widespread anger and lack of decency. Perhaps media platforms should turn off comments on such tragedies out of respect for the victim.
But we also need to explore what fuels hatred. UnitedHealth has was sued and widely criticized over its algorithmic system for denying coverageindustry leading application rejection rates and his high profits which allegedly came from lowering the care allowance. The The Department of Justice sued the companyarguing that it has reduced competition and harmed the quality of care in the hospice industry. Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund sued Thompson and his colleagues who claimed insider trading.
Thompson’s wife said he did received some threats. In this charged atmosphere, what is also shocking is the lack of certainty surrounding the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. At the time of his death, he was walking alone on the street. As one executive told me yesterday, “I would ask management why they didn’t insist that Brian have insurance with him at all times.”
Healthcare is an industry that evokes particularly strong emotions in terms of life and death consequences. There is much that Brian Thompson and UnitedHealthcare have tried to do to improve the state of human health. UnitedHealth Group became the largest health insurer in the country for a reason. It is too early to draw lessons from such a random tragedy when so many questions remain unanswered. But surely more can be done to avoid the second one.
More news below.
Diane Brady
diane.brady@fortune.com
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This edition of CEO Daily was prepared by Joey Abrams.
