The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›People›General›Brian Thompson
People • General

Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson most commonly refers to Brian Robert Thompson (1974–2024), an American business executive who served as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare from 2021 until his death in 2024.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Brian Thompson most commonly refers to Brian Robert Thompson (1974–2024), an American business executive who served as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare from 2021 until his death in 2024. The name also refers to several other people, including Brian Earl Thompson (born 1959), an American actor.

UnitedHealthcare executive

Brian Robert Thompson became chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021 after years of service within the company. He had previously worked in leadership roles at the insurer and its related business units.

Death

Thompson was shot and killed outside the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan on December 4, 2024. The killing drew major media attention and led to a police investigation and criminal charges against a suspect. Authorities later arrested and charged Luigi Mangione in connection with the killing.

Other people named Brian Thompson

Brian Thompson is a common name associated with several public figures. These include actor Brian Earl Thompson, as well as athletes, writers, and other professionals listed in name-disambiguation pages.

Key facts

  • Brian Robert Thompson was the chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare from April 2021 until his death in 2024.
  • He had worked at UnitedHealthcare since 2004.
  • He was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024.
  • Authorities later arrested and charged Luigi Mangione in connection with the killing.
  • The name Brian Thompson also refers to other notable people, including actor Brian Earl Thompson (born 1959).

Frequently asked questions

Who was Brian Thompson?
Brian Thompson most commonly refers to Brian Robert Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare chief executive officer who was killed in 2024.
What was Brian Thompson’s job?
He was chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare, the health insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group.
When was Brian Thompson born?
He was born on July 10, 1974.
When did Brian Thompson die?
He died on December 4, 2024.
Was Brian Thompson an actor?
Brian Thompson can also refer to Brian Earl Thompson, an American actor born in 1959.
Why is Brian Thompson notable?
He was a major U.S. health insurance executive and became widely known after his fatal shooting in Manhattan in 2024.

References

  1. CBS News — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brian-thompson-unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting/
    Supports: UnitedHealthcare CEO identity, April 2021 appointment, and 2024 killing.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpl2qn7l5o
    Supports: Overview of Thompson as UnitedHealthcare CEO and reporting on his killing.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Brian_Thompson
    Supports: Birth and death dates, job history, and details of the 2024 killing.
  4. LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-thompson-98065165
    Supports: Self-reported career summary, CEO role since April 2021, and University of Iowa graduation.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Thompson
    Supports: Disambiguation of the name Brian Thompson to multiple notable people.