Krista Nelson Steps in as Optum Health CEO Amid Executive Shake-Up

Nelson succeeds Dr. Patrick Conway, who will continue as CEO of the broader Optum division.

Optum Health, the care delivery arm of UnitedHealth Group, has appointed Krista Nelson as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Nelson succeeds Dr. Patrick Conway, who will continue as CEO of the broader Optum division.

Nelson, formerly chief operating officer of Optum Health, announced the leadership change on LinkedIn last week. She has been with UnitedHealthcare, the payer arm of UnitedHealth, intermittently since 2009. Most recently, she oversaw the growth of government programs before moving to Optum in May as COO.

Dr. Conway, who took over as Optum Health CEO in June, will retain his role as Optum CEO, overseeing the company’s broader health services operations. The reshuffling is part of UnitedHealth’s ongoing effort to restructure its C-suite and rebuild investor confidence following financial underperformance and rising medical costs.

The company has seen rapid executive changes this year. Roger Connor, named Optum CFO in May, left in early November and was replaced by finance veteran Ben Eklo. Similarly, the CEO position of Optum Insight, UnitedHealth’s data and analytics division, has changed hands twice since May.

Optum Health underperformed in third-quarter earnings, a result of growing pains from rapidly expanding provider networks and reimbursement cuts tied to federal policies. Conway highlighted these challenges during UnitedHealth’s earnings call, noting that the division’s expansion strategy added strain to operations.

Under Nelson’s leadership, Optum Health is expected to pivot toward a direct physician employment model and trim unprofitable members. The move signals a strategic shift aimed at stabilizing the division’s performance and addressing investor concerns.

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