After a lengthy illness, former Centene CEO Michael F. Neidorff passed away last week, surrounded by his family and friends.
Neidorff was Centene Corporation’s visionary leader for more than 25 years. He built a remarkable American business success story and his commitment to providing affordable, high quality health care to the most vulnerable people transformed lives across the globe.
“Michael Neidorff was a visionary leader in American healthcare,” Sarah London, CEO of Centene said. “Today, the company he built provides healthcare for nearly 1 in 15 vulnerable Americans, and his life’s work has transformed the delivery of care in our country. Moreover, Michael’s philanthropic impact on organizations such as the National Urban League will provide lasting blessings across America for years to come. On behalf of the 75,000 employees of Centene, I want to express our deepest condolences to Michael’s family and loved ones. Michael’s passion lives within the women and men of Centene, and his commitment to the mission of transforming the health of America’s most vulnerable citizens lives on.”
Neidorff joined Centene as CEO in 1996 and led the company in its remarkable trajectory from a $40 million single health plan to a multinational $125 billion health care enterprise serving 25 million members. Centene is ranked No. 24 in the Fortune 500, 57 in the Fortune 500 Global list, and No. 7 on the 2019 Fortune Change the World list. Centene has grown to nearly 76,000 employees serving all 50 states and 3 international countries.
Neidorff made diversity and inclusion a central focus of his leadership, building an international corporation where women, people of color, LGBTQ, veterans, and people with disabilities all have opportunities to lead and excel. Thanks to his strong commitment, Fortune ranked Centene as the No. 2 company nationally for diversity and inclusion. In 2017, Neidorff was named Citizen of the Year by the St. Louis Post Dispatch for spearheading a $30 million investment in Ferguson, Missouri, in the weeks following the racial unrest in the summer of 2014. That investment brought much needed opportunity and hope to the region, anchoring small businesses in the community.
Neidorff’s philanthropy and personal generosity transformed the non-profit landscape. His continual support for hundreds of not-for-profit organizations was widely celebrated.
He was dedicated to supporting arts and civic organizations. He served as chairman of the board of trustees for the National Urban League and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis. For more than 30 years, he served on the board of directors for the Greater St. Louis Boy Scouts of America and on the board of Concordance Academy.
Neidorff’s love and devotion for his family knew no bounds. He was a beloved husband to Noémi Neidorff, father to Peter Neidorff and the late Monica Neidorff, and brother to Susan Neidorff Reinglass and Robert Neidorff.
Raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Neidorff graduated from Trinity University and St. Francis College. In 2021, Trinity University named its business school, the Michael Neidorff School of Business in his honor.
