What were the top healthcare CEO salaries last year?

Check out who made the list from healthcare and life sciences.

By on June 26, 2015 1:02 pm

 

 

The Wall Street Journal released a report listing the highest paid CEOs from the top 300 companies in 2014.

The following is a list of the top healthcare CEO salaries :

 

These high salaries have attracted  some commentary– both positive and negative– about how they affect health insurance and healthcare altogether.

Wendell Potter, former public relations executive for Cigna, where CEO David Cordani raked in a $14.5 million salary in 2014, said, “There’s no doubt that one of the reasons why Americans pay more for health insurance and for healthcare than people in any other country in the world is because of this high executive compensation.”

Doctor and author Louise Aronson tweeted:

 

James M. Cornelius, the previous CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb, defended Lamberto Andreotti, former CEO and now chairman of BMS. He said, “Lamberto has demonstrated extraordinary leadership as president and chief operating officer…I have a high level of confidence in Lamberto and that is shared by everyone who has seen him consistently and successfully drives performance.”

Defending the high salaries of these CEOs, partner with consulting firm Mercer Tom Flannery said, “Not everyone can step up and step into running a healthcare system with 25 to 50 hospitals. It’s a heck of a complex job.”

Photos: (from left) Wayne Smith, Community Health Systems; Brenton Saunders, Activis (now Allergan); and Lamberto Andreotti, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Photo (featured): Flickr user Peasap