UnitedHealth Group has named John Rex as its next president, succeeding Dirk McMahon, who is retiring.
Rex will retain his role as chief financial officer and will take on the additional role of president April 1, according to a Thursday Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Related: Why UnitedHealth Group's Optum is eyeing Steward physician group
McMahon, who has spent more than two decades at UnitedHealth Group, early last month announced his plans to retire. McMahon also serves as chief operating officer. The regulatory filing did not include any information on who would succeed him in that role.
During his tenure, McMahon has led various UnitedHealth Group units including as CEO of its insurance subsidiary UnitedHealthcare, president and chief operating officer of Optum, and CEO of its pharmacy benefit manager OptumRx.
Rex joined UnitedHealth Group as chief financial officer and executive vice president of its Optum unit more than a decade ago before being named chief financial officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealth Group in 2016.
The change in the C-suite comes as the company deals with massive internal and external challenges. The company continues restoring systems provided by its Change Healthcare subsidiary that was hit with a ransomware attack last month. It also has been one of several major insurance companies navigating financial pressures linked to higher medical costs and utilization in Medicare Advantage.
The company also is trying to expand its portfolio. This week, UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Care unit announced plans to acquire Steward Health Care's physician group, which would bolster its current network of 90,000 physicians. UnitedHealth Group is working on a planned $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based hospice and home healthcare provider.
