Noel joined the company in 2007, most recently serving as the chief executive of the Medicare and retirement sector, the company told Fortune.

According to the company website, prior to his time at UnitedHealth Group, Noel spent time at Northwest Airlines, where he worked on financial restructuring during the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. 

“He brings unparalleled experience to this role with a proven track record and strong commitment to improving how health care works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments, and our other partners,” the company said. 

The former CEO, Brian Thompson, was killed on Dec. 4, 2024, after he was shot outside the entrance of the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. After a five-day manhunt, Luigi Mangione, the suspected killer, was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa. While Mangione was not a client of the insurer, he was allegedly carrying a 3D-printed ghost gun and a handwritten document that condemned the health care industry for its greed over patient care. 

Extradited to New York City, Mangione was charged with second-degree murder as well as possession of a loaded firearm with intent to use it unlawfully; forgery; and providing false identification to Pennsylvania police.

On Dec. 23, Mangione pleaded not guilty in Manhattan court. He is slated to reappear in court in February. 

According to a 2023 company report, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare covers more than 50 million people. 

While public sentiment has been divided on the killing of Thompson, some Americans have used this opportunity to take to social media to voice their discontent about the country’s health care system. 
A recent report from the Federal Trade Commission, found that UnitedHealth Group inflated costs for some lifesaving drugs by more than 1,000%.