UnitedHealth Group Names Mike Cotton as New Medicaid CEO in Executive Reshuffle

UnitedHealth Group has appointed Mike Cotton as the new CEO of its Medicaid business, filling a role that had been vacant since May 2025 after Krista Nelson became COO at Optum Health135.

Mike Cotton joined UnitedHealth Group in 2021 and previously served as president and CEO of Intermountain's Select Health, as well as regional CEO for UnitedHealthcare Community & State in Atlanta15.

Bobby Hunter, the current CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare division, will now oversee both the Medicare and Medicaid businesses1.

The leadership changes come after former UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty stepped down in May, with Stephen Hemsley returning to lead the company; several top roles within the organization have since been shuffled1.

These moves reflect UnitedHealth Group's strategy of developing a diverse executive team with broad experience across its business portfolio1.

Sources:

1. https://www.beckerspayer.com/executive-moves/unitedhealth-group-names-new-medicaid-ceo/

3. https://www.ainvest.com/news/unitedhealth-group-appoints-head-medicaid-division-ceo-reshuffle-2507/

5. https://seekingalpha.com/news/4466277-unitedhealth-names-new-leader-of-medicaid-unit