Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO leads health insurers to remove photos

THE murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson directed Hundredsanother major health insurer, to move to a virtual investor day instead of a planned in-person event in New York.

Thompson's killing also prompted some major health care companies, including UnitedHealthcare's parent company, to remove photos of executives and board members from their websites.

And health insurance Medicalwhich, like UnitedHealthcare, is based in Minnesota, closed its main campus in Minnetonka due to safety concerns for its employees.

“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security for all of our employees,” a Medica spokesperson told NBC News.

“While we have not received any specific threats regarding our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution,” the spokesperson said.

Centene, which announced the move to a virtual event on Friday, is one of the largest Medicaid insurers and was scheduled to hold its investor day at New York Stock Exchange next Thursday.

Centene said in a statement that “following the tragic loss of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Centene's Investor Day will now be held virtually.”

Thompson was fatally shot Wednesday morning by an unidentified gunman outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan as he prepared to enter the hotel for the investor day of UnitedHealth Group, the company parent of UnitedHealthcare. The event was abruptly canceled after UHG leaders learned of the murder.

Police believe Thompson was specifically targeted by the shooter, who left behind shell casings with the words “deny,” “delay” and “drop” written on them. The words possibly refer to terms used by critics of insurance companies to identify their strategy of denying customer claims.

“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by the passing of Brian Thompson and want to express our support to everyone affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many CenTeam members have crossed paths with Brian during their careers. said Sarah London, CEO of Centene, in a statement.

“He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and a real passion for improving access to care. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues during this difficult time.”

As of Friday, Centene's website contained no photos of its executives.

UnitedHealth removed its web page containing links to photos and information about its top executives.

The web page for HumanThe board of directors no longer presents photos or information about these people.

CVS Health also removed photos of its top executives from its website.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which is a group of independent health insurers, has been dissolved a link to its executive biographies on his website, Healthcaredive.com reported.

Chris Pierson, CEO of Black capewhich provides private digital security to senior executives and their families, told CNBC that disclosing events expected to be attended by executives of public companies, as well as photos of their executives and board members on company websites, making them targets of harassment and threats. .

Ben Joelson, director and head of security risk at the Chertoff Group, said in an interview that insurers and other companies removing images of their executives and board members was “a prudent step.”

“What they're trying to do is basically reduce the surface of online risk and what exists in terms of the digital dust available around their leaders,” Joelson said. “I think as we learn more about this specific motive, and obviously there are indications that this was…clearly targeted based on the position of the executive, companies will respond and sort of adjust their protection profiles accordingly.”

He also said his company is “currently helping several Fortune 500 clients re-evaluate their approach to investor and shareholder meetings, and ensure they have a protective bubble around their principals decision-makers”.

“When you announce an event at a location in advance and identify who will be there, you increase the risk of that event happening and you need to plan accordingly,” Joelson said.

Joelson said Chertoff Group has seen an increase in requests from businesses about their security since the two assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump.

“Some clients and boards are asking, 'Are we doing what's best for our leaders?' Joelson said. “Are we doing what an ordinary, reasonably prudent business should do?”

Doug Mandell, a partner at the law firm Withersworldwide, which negotiates contracts for executives that include security provisions, said in an interview that most executives find personal security intrusive.

But Mandell expects to see more clients seeking additional protection from their boards after Thompson's killing.

“The CEO was going to a meeting for his shareholders…and they’ve already received threats,” Mandell said.

“He certainly should have had security. And I think a lot of other CEOs are going to say to their companies, 'Okay, I'm in a situation where I really need protection.' “

“In the past, it was much more common if they were traveling internationally. Now they're going to think about it locally,” Mandell said.