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Chief Executives Seek Increased Security After UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Slaying
The brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson, has triggered a surge in requests for additional security protection from high-level corporate officers. According to Matthew Dumpert, managing director at Kroll Enterprise Security Risk Management, CEOs and other executive-level individuals are seeking increased personal security amid concerns about potential threats.
Dumpert noted that CEOs are often the public face of their organizations and, as such, may be more likely to attract negative attention. The slaying of Thompson, which occurred while he was walking to a meeting unaccompanied, has raised concerns about the increasing number of threats to individuals in the healthcare industry.
Police are still searching for the gunman, who is believed to have targeted Thompson for unknown reasons. The shooting has sparked public speculation that Thompson may have been killed in connection with his company’s claims denial practices. Bullet casings found at the scene bore the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose,” which may be a reference to a 2010 book about insurance companies denying benefits.
The loss of life has sent shockwaves through the executive community, with many CEOs and other high-level officials seeking increased security measures. This includes 24/7 protection, as well as changes in how events, board meetings, and speaking engagements are secured.
Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, a company that provides private digital security for C-suite executives and their families, said that Thompson’s slaying is unprecedented in recent US history. The incident has raised concerns about how executives will be protected in the future, particularly in high-profile events and public settings.
While some companies do provide security services to their CEOs, such as private jet travel, most do not explicitly state whether they provide regular security details. A CNBC analysis found that only about 20% of S&P 500 companies list some type of security benefit for their CEOs, up 7 percentage points from a decade ago.
