A group of about two dozen protesters disrupted a sold-out speech by UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley on Tuesday at the McNamara Alumni Center.

The protests, organized by TakeAction Minnesota, were against the health care providerâÄôs reserve funds. Protesters called for full disclosure of UnitedHealthâÄôs relationship with the stateâÄôs public health care programs.

Hemsley had been invited to campus by the Carlson School of Management as a part of a guest speaker series. He paused his speech on the evolution of a business because of the protest and stepped off stage until the group was escorted outside by a police officer, Carlson spokesman Steve Rudolph said.

The CEO then concluded his speech and handled questions about the interruption during a question and answer session.

The speech was part of CarlsonâÄôs âÄú1st Tuesday Speaker SeriesâÄù and had around 400 to 500 students, alumni and community members in attendance. Carlson representatives at the event told Rudolph they couldnâÄôt remember any other protests taking place during the series, which started in 1992.

Copies of the letter that the group sent to Hemsley, printed on pink fliers, were handed to the crowd.

Hemsley was MinnesotaâÄôs highest-paid CEO in 2009, according to the Star TribuneâÄôs most recent annual survey of the stateâÄôs top-paid CEOs. He made $102 million that year, $98.6 million of which was generated through stock options.