Optum CEO Witty To Take Leave To Join WHO’s COVID-19 Vaccine Effort

UnitedHealth Group’s Sir Andrew Witty who runs the company’s fast-growing Optum health services business will take a leave of absence to “co-lead a global effort of the World Health Organization” to develop a vaccine for the Coronavirus strain COVID-19.
Witty, who previously ran the global drug and vaccine maker GlaxoSmithKline, will take his leave of absence effective April 20 and plans to return to UntiedHealth and Optum by the end of this year. Witty joined the executive suite of UnitedHealth Group when he became CEO of Optum in March of 2018.
Prior to joining UnitedHealth and Optum, Witty was CEO and a director of GSK from 2008 until 2017, having joined the global drug and vaccine giant in 1985. “While CEO of GSK, he gained global recognition for his efforts to develop and expand access to critically needed vaccines,” UnitedHealth said in its statement.
“I am deeply honored to help lead this mission to seek a COVID-19 vaccine and am confident the people of Optum will remain relentless in their work to help their customers, communities and each other each day,” Witty, whose appointment to the WHO position is effective April 20, said in a statement from UnitedHealth Group Wednesday morning. “I look forward to rejoining them on the other side of this crisis to continue helping make the health system work better for everyone.”
During Witty’s temporary assignment, UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann will oversee Optum, the company said.
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