Eight months after a ransomware assault on subsidiary Change Healthcare caused significant disruptions across the country, UnitedHealth Group changed its security leadership by appointing Tim McKnight as CISO. This week McKnight announced the news on LinkedIn.
Steven Martin, who took over as CISO in May 2023—nine months prior to the ransomware attack—is replaced by McKnight. Martin moved to a new position at UnitedHealth as chief restoration officer as part of the transition. Martin previously held the positions of CIO and CTO at Optum, another UnitedHealth Group affiliate, and Change Healthcare.
In the biggest healthcare data breach ever disclosed to federal regulators, UnitedHealth Group announced earlier this month that the intrusion, which utilised compromised credentials to a remote access Citrix portal, affected data on at least 100 million people. The healthcare behemoth’s crucial error in not securing a vital system—not turning on multifactor authentication—was another crucial factor in the attack.
UnitedHealth Group will not confirm whether the CISO leadership change was a reaction to a ransomware assault in February that disrupted the company’s platform for processing medical claims for almost a month.
“We are excited that Tim McKnight, a leading expert in cybersecurity, has agreed to join our team, and equally excited that the addition of Tim will enable Steven Martin to focus on a new role as chief restoration officer,” Eric Hausman, VP of media relations at UnitedHealth Group, said in a Tuesday statement.
According to his LinkedIn page, McKnight has over 30 years of extensive experience in security. In addition to serving on several boards and in advisory capacities, he was most recently SAP’s EVP and CSO. Prior security leadership positions at Thomson Reuters, GE, Fidelity Investments, and Northrop Grumman were held by the former FBI special agent.
Sen. Ron Wyden chastised the corporation in a May letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission for hiring Martin as CISO despite the fact that he has never held a full-time cybersecurity position.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: CIO News LinkedIn Account | CIO News Facebook | CIO News Youtube | CIO News Twitter
About us:
CIO News is the premier platform dedicated to delivering the latest news, updates, and insights from the CIO industry. As a trusted source in the technology and IT sector, we provide a comprehensive resource for executives and professionals seeking to stay informed and ahead of the curve. With a focus on cutting-edge developments and trends, CIO News serves as your go-to destination for staying abreast of the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and IT. Founded in June 2020, CIO News has rapidly evolved with ambitious growth plans to expand globally, targeting markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, USA, and the UK.
CIO News is a proprietary of Mercadeo Multiventures Pvt Ltd.
