Closed-circuit screenshots of people involved in the murder of United Healthcare CEO.
Source: NYPD
CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson He was shot and killed on Wednesday while doing what countless other American executives do on a regular basis: attending an investor event hosted by his company unaccompanied.
But Thompson’s death this week at the Center for American Enterprise Capital sent shockwaves throughout the business world, forcing companies to rethink the risks involved in even the most routine administrative duties.
“Everyone is scrambling to ask, ‘Are we safe?'” said Chuck Randolphchief security officer at Ontic, a threat management software provider based in Austin, Texas. “This is a turning point, where the idea of ​​executive protection is now being elevated to the boardroom level. Everyone I know in the industry is feeling this.”
Security professionals say threats against businesses have been increasing for years, in part due to social media echo chambers and a more polarized political environment. But the murder of Thompson, the head of the nation’s largest private health insurance company, on a Manhattan sidewalk was the most high-profile such incident in decades.
Companies are now concerned that their leaders are at greater risk of being targeted for violence, especially as they host more public investor events in New York in the coming weeks.
The gunman remains at large and his motive is unclear. There were writings on the shell casings found at the scene. Tips may be provided About what incited the shooter.
One question raised by security experts not involved in the case is whether the gunman expressed his dissatisfaction with UnitedHealthcare in online forums and searched for information about the investor incident. Several health care companies have pulled photos of senior executives from their websites, and health insurance company Centene held an investor meeting virtual After the killing.
According to NYPD officials, there was no security detail with Thompson on Wednesday morning, despite the known threat. None of UnitedHealth’s top executives received personal security benefits, according to the company. Filing.
According to reports, on December 4, 2024, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA. The location of the bullet casing found at the scene was marked with a cup.
Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
If Thompson had done that, several key factors would have been different. Prior to his arrival, staff had gone to the hotel to detect threats; they said he would also be accompanied by armed security, who may have used another hotel entrance. Scott StewartGlobal Vice President of Torchstone.
“This is preventable,” said Stewart, who said he has been in the industry for nearly four decades. “I’ve never seen an executive with a comprehensive security program fall victim to something like this.”
Still, several security veterans said before this week’s shocking events, it was not uncommon for senior executives to refuse security protection because their lives or images were disrupted.
“Not every CEO needs heavy-duty protection,” said the security director of one technology company, who was not authorized to speak to the media. “Senior executives are being threatened all day long, and you need a platform to” check them and determine whether they are trustworthy and timely, he said.
“Guns, guards and gates”
Since Thompson was killed, many companies have been looking extra protection For senior executives, Matthew Dumpert, managing director of Kroll Enterprise Security Risk Management, told CNBC.
In the coming weeks, there will be several financial conferences in New York that the CEO will attend in person. A manager at a major bank said that so far the main concern at these events has been interference from environmentalists or other protesters.
“Everyone is paying attention and thinking about the safety of senior people,” said an executive at a major Wall Street firm, who declined to be named for fear of the attention it would draw.
Some enterprise security veterans say they are viewed as cost centers whose leaders are “too embedded in the organization to be listened to.”
“The bias is that security is a pain point for people and it’s not that important,” said the person, who requested anonymity.
“I hope this opens their eyes,” he said. “Risk intelligence and assessment are important, security is more than just guns, guards and gates.”
—CNBC’s Jordan Novet, Bertha Coombs and Dan Mangan contributed to this report
