UnitedHealthcare has appointed Tim Noel, a long-standing company veteran, as its new CEO, following the tragic killing of former top executive Brian Thompson in December. The announcement comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the US healthcare industry,

The brazen killing of Thompson on Dec. 4 ignited a broad conversation about the frustrations of navigating the US healthcare system.

UnitedHealth Group promoted the head of its Medicare health plan business to lead the company’s broader insurance division, filling the job previously held by slain executive Brian Thompson.