After a national search, UConn Health has tapped Dr. Andrew Agwunobi to be its chief executive officer. Agwunobi is returning to UConn Health after working for two years at insurer Humana.
Agwunobi, 58, was CEO of UConn Health from 2014 to 2022. He also served as interim president of the University of Connecticut, the first person of color to hold the position, from July 2021 to February 2022.
He begins work with UConn Health on Friday. His annual salary will be $800,000, and he will be eligible for up to $90,000 more if certain performance targets are met, a spokeswoman for the health system said.
“I’m honored to return to an organization that I deeply care for,” Agwunobi said Wednesday. “I believe strongly in UConn Health. I believe in the clinical care we provide to the people of Connecticut. I believe in the research. I believe in education. … We’re already amazing, it’s just about going to the next level. Being back is wonderful.”
Bruce Liang, who has been the acting chief executive officer of UConn Health, will stay on as dean of the medical school.
Prior to serving as CEO of UConn Health, Agwunobi was managing director and co-leader of the health performance improvement practice at Berkeley Research Group and held other administrative positions, such as CEO of the Grady Health System in Atlanta, CEO of Providence Healthcare in Washington and secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
During his previous stretch with UConn Health, officials said, Agwunobi oversaw “a transformative phase of growth” that included doubling patient net revenues, managing an $800 million campus infrastructure project and implementing a comprehensive electronic health record system.
Agwunobi’s appointment follows a national search. UConn President Radenka Maric said a search committee narrowed a pool of candidates to nine and invited four to Connecticut to meet with the board of trustees, Gov. Ned Lamont and others.
Dr. Andrew Agwunobi and UConn’s president, Radenka Maric, speak to the audience at a news conference announcing Agwunobi’s appointment as the new UConn Health CEO. Credit: Tabius McCoy / CT Mirror
“Andy has extensive experience leading the complex academic and private health care system, serving as a senior health care consultant and working in the payer industry. … That, combined with his deep knowledge of UConn Health and the broader university makes him the perfect leader to take UConn Health to the next level,” Maric said.
“Over the last few years, UConn Health has significantly increased its reputation as a national leader in accelerating process in science and medicine, as well as student success and faculty retention, and that is in large part because of the guidance and commitment of Dr. Agwunobi,” Lamont added.
There will also be a change on the UConn Health board of directors in the coming months. Sanford Cloud Jr., who has spent 20 years on UConn Health’s board, including 13 as chair, said Wednesday that he was stepping down later this year.