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this kill of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson lead hundredsAnother major health insurance company, turning to Virtual Investor Day Instead of an in-person event planned in New York.
Thompson’s killing also prompted some major medical companies, including UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, to remove photos of Thompson senior executive and board members from its website.
And health insurance companies MedicaLike Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare, the company has closed its main campus in Minnetonka due to employee safety concerns.
“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have enhanced safety and security for all employees,” a Medica spokesperson told NBC News.
“While we have not received a specific threat related to our campus, out of an abundance of caution, our building will be temporarily closed,” the spokesperson said.
Centene, one of the largest Medicaid insurers, announced Friday it will move to a virtual event and plans to New York Stock Exchange Next Thursday.
“Following the tragic passing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Centene’s Investor Day will now be held virtually,” Centene said in a statement.
Thompson was shot and killed by an unknown gunman outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning as he prepared to enter the hotel for an investor day for UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealth Insurance. After UHG leadership learned of the murder, the event was abruptly canceled.
Police believe the gunman specifically targeted Thompson and left behind shell casings with words such as “deny,” “delay” and “discard” written on them. The words may refer to terms used by critics of the insurance company to identify its tactics of denying customer claims.
On December 5, 2024, in midtown Manhattan, New York City, the United States, a poster was posted on a lamppost outside the Hilton Hotel near the scene where United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed.
Mike Fresh | Reuters
“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Thompson and want to express our support for all those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the Centene team worked with Brian in their careers through contact,” Centene CEO Sarah London said in a statement.
“He was a man of deep empathy with a clear passion for improving access to care. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues during this difficult time.”
Centene’s website did not have photos of its executives Friday.
UnitedHealth Group took down its web page that linked to photos and information about its executives.
The web page is humanaThe board of directors no longer provides photos or information about these individuals.
CVS Health It also removed photos of its executives from its website.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a group of independent health insurance companies, was canceled Links to its executive officers biography on its website, Healthcaredive.com reported.
Chris Pearson, CEO black cloakA company that provides private digital security services to C-suite executives and their families told CNBC that the disclosure of events where public company executives are expected to attend and photos of their leadership and board members on the company’s website makes them vulnerable to harassment and harassment. The target of the threat.
Ben Joelson, principal and head of security risk at Chertoff Group, said in an interview that it was a “prudent step” for insurance companies and other companies to remove photos of their executives and board members. .
“What they’re trying to do is basically reduce the online risk surface and the digital dust available around executives,” Joelson said. “I do think that as we learn more about this particular motivation, obviously there are some clues that this is … clearly targeted based on the executive’s position, companies will react and adjust their protection configuration accordingly.”
He also said his firm is “helping several Fortune 500 clients re-evaluate the way they attend investor meetings, shareholder meetings and ensure there is a protective bubble around their key decision-makers.”
“When you pre-announce an event at a location and identify who’s going to be there, you increase the risk for that event and you have to plan for that,” Joelson said.
Joelson said the Chertoff Group has seen an increase in inquiries about its security from companies since President-elect Trump’s two assassination attempts.
“Some clients and boards have been asking, ‘Are we doing what’s best for our executives?'” Joelson said. “‘Are we doing what a normal, reasonably prudent company would do?’ “
