Humana taps Amazon executive to head insurance unit as veteran retires

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Humana (HUM) said connected Tuesday that George Renaudin volition measurement down arsenic president of its security conception and named Amazon ​healthcare (AMZN) enforcement Aaron Martin arsenic his successor.

Renaudin, who played a pivotal ‌role successful establishing and increasing the Medicare Advantage and Medicaid programs, volition discontinue adjacent twelvemonth aft ‌a 29-year vocation astatine the company, the U.S. wellness insurer said.

Martin was vice president of healthcare astatine Amazon, wherever helium oversaw strategical partnerships, selling and the company's telehealth and chronic conditions programs.

"Today's announcement marks an important modulation for Humana's ⁠management team," said Evercore ISI ‌analyst Elizabeth Anderson. "We spot the assignment of Aaron Martin arsenic an absorbing prime and 1 that whitethorn assistance Humana successful ‍its integrated exertion transition."

Humana besides reaffirmed its yearly adjusted nett forecast of astir $17 per share. The company's shares were down astir 2% astatine $260.68 successful aboriginal trading.

Two analysts said ​the deficiency of commentary connected 2026 open-enrollment play volition origin capitalist concern.

"The ‌timing of the announcement is apt to thrust elevated capitalist concern. Annual enrollment play ended astir a week agone and Humana is not offering a preliminary presumption connected 2026 rank results astatine this time," said Barclays expert Andrew Mok.

Humana, 1 of the largest providers of Medicare Advantage plans for radical 65 ⁠and older and those with disabilities, has ​been attempting to incorporate an industrywide surge successful ​healthcare costs by repricing plans and adjusting benefits.

Martin volition articulation Humana successful January arsenic president of Medicare Advantage, a recently created ‍role, and volition ⁠assume the relation of security conception president pursuing Renaudin's status successful the 3rd 4th of adjacent year.

After retiring, Renaudin volition service arsenic a strategical ⁠advisor done astatine slightest the extremity of 2026, the institution said.

The institution besides said John ‌Barger volition win Martin arsenic president of Medicare Advantage.

(Reporting by Sneha ‌S K; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)