UnitedHealth Group's Andrew Witty to join WHO vaccine efforts
Witty will take a leave of absence with an expected return as Optum CEO by the end of the year.
Sir Andrew Witty, president of UnitedHealth Group and CEO of Optum, is taking a leave of absence to co-lead a global effort of the World Health Organization to accelerate the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Witty's appointment to the position with WHO is effective April 20. During Witty's temporary assignment, UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann will oversee Optum. Witty is expected to return to the company at approximately year's end.
Witty, former CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, was asked to join WHO's efforts. He served as CEO and a director of GSK from 2008 until 2017, having joined the company in 1985. While CEO of GSK, he gained global recognition for his efforts to develop and expand access to critically needed vaccines, UnitedHealth Group said.
Witty was a member of the UnitedHealth Group Board of Directors from August 2017 until March 2018, when he became CEO of Optum. He was named president of UnitedHealth Group in November 2019.
Wichmann said that Witty brings the perfect combination of deep global health expertise, innovation and operating skills and, above all, a passion for, and considerable success in, developing vaccines.
During UnitedHealth Group's earnings call on Wednesday, Wichmann said, "Let me pause to acknowledge and add a note of deep gratitude to Andrew Witty, who has announced this morning he will be taking a leave of absence to provide leadership for the efforts of the World Health Organization to find and distribute a vaccine for COVID-19. We couldn't be more proud to call one of our own to see one of our own serve in this way and we look forward to both his success in leading this effort and his return to our company once this important work is done."
Witty said by 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. I look forward to rejoining them on the other side of this crisis to continue helping make the health system work better for everyone."
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com
