Shooting of United Healthcare CEO: Executives worried about security

CEO of UnitedHealthcare Brian Thompson was fatally shot Wednesday doing something countless other U.S. executives do regularly: going unaccompanied to an investor event hosted by his company.

But Thompson's death this week in the heart of the US capital sent shock waves through the business world, forcing companies to rethink the risks associated with the most common executive responsibilities.

“Everyone is scrambling to say, 'Are we safe?' “, said Chuck Randolphsecurity manager at Ontic, a threat management software provider based in Austin, Texas. “This is an inflection point where the idea of ​​executive protection is now being brought to the board level. Everyone I know in the industry feels that way.”

Threats against businesses have been increasing for years, fueled in part by social media buzz and a more polarized political environment, security professionals say. But the killing on a Manhattan sidewalk of Thompson, head of the largest private health insurance company in the United States, is the most high-profile incident of its kind in decades.

Companies now fear that their executives are at greater risk of being targets of violence, especially as they hold more public investor events in New York in the coming weeks.

The shooter is still on the run and his motives are unknown. Words written on the shell casings found at the scene can offer clues about what incited the shooter.

One question posed by security experts not involved in the case was whether the shooter aired his grievances against UnitedHealthcare on online forums and sought information about the event for investors. Several health care companies responded by removing photos of their executives from their websites, and health insurer Centene held a meeting with investors. virtual after the murder.

Thompson did not have a security guard with him Wednesday morning, despite known threats against him, according to New York Police officials. None of UnitedHealth's executives received personal security benefits, according to the company official. deposits.

Had Thompson done so, several key factors would have been different. Staff reportedly went to the hotel before his arrival to detect threats; he was also allegedly accompanied by armed security guards who could have used another entrance to the hotel, said Scott Stewartvice president of TorchStone Global.

“This was avoidable,” said Stewart, who said he worked nearly four decades in the industry. “I have never seen an executive with a comprehensive security program be victimized in this way.”

Yet before this week's shocking events, it was not uncommon for executives to turn down security because of the disruption to their lives or the image it may create, several security veterans said.

“Not every CEO needs enhanced protection,” said the head of security at a technology company who was not authorized to speak to the press. “Senior leaders are subject to threats all day long, you need a platform to” examine them and determine if they are credible and timely, he said.

Since Thompson's murder, a wide range of companies have sought to additional protection for executives, Matthew Dumpert, managing director of Kroll Enterprise Security Risk Management, told CNBC.

In the coming weeks, several financial conferences will take place in New York that CEOs must attend in person. The main concern with these events so far has been the disruption caused by environmental activists or other protesters, said a manager at a major bank.

“Everyone is thinking about the safety of their senior executives,” said an executive at a major Wall Street firm who declined to be identified, fearing it would draw attention.

Some enterprise security veterans said they are seen as a cost center whose leaders are “too deep in an organization to be listened to.”

“The bias is that security is a headache for people, and it’s not that important,” said the person, who requested anonymity to speak candidly.

“I hope this opens their eyes,” he said. “Information and risk assessment are important, and security is about more than weapons, guards and doors.”

—Jordan Novet, Bertha Coombs and Dan Mangan of CNBC contributed to this report