United Health's CEO Steps Down After 10 Years

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- After 10 years of running UnitedHealth Group, Stephen Hemsley is stepping down as CEO.

On Wednesday morning, the company announced the change at the top. Hemsley, 65, will become the Executive Chairman of United Health's board.

Fifty-four-year-old David Wichmann, who has been the president of United Health since 2014, will become CEO on September 1.

One analyst says the transition is not a surprise but it is happening sooner than expected.

UnitedHealth, based in Minnetonka, is the nation's largest health insurer and has 17,000 employees in Minnesota.