This article explores the evolving physical security landscape, identifies common attack vectors, and outlines pragmatic, multi-layered solutions to effectively safeguard executives and their families.
C-suite executives face increasing physical threats, driven by public scrutiny, societal divides, and activism.
Business leaders today are nine times more likely to be targeted by criminals than the general population.
Key statistics include:
The brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the streets of midtown Manhattan in December 2024, highlighted that a tangible, and very real, physical threat to corporate c-suite members exists. Social media analysis of the public reaction to the attack highlighted the extremely divisive nature of the population, and as activism surrounding social justice, inequality, geopolitical issues, and environmental concerns have increased, the vocalisation (or, in some cases, the silence) of some CEOs has spurred a growing trend of physical security threats.
Common attack vectors include organised crime groups engaged by competitors and political figures, disgruntled employees, social action groups, and lone wolf actors . Such cases highlight the intersections of power, wealth, and political or business rivalries that lead to violent actions against leaders.
Furthermore, research has shown that c-suite executives are nine-times more likely to be targeted by scammers, criminals, and other actors, compared to the general population.
From an industry perspective, the main sources of reactionary events tend to be most prevalent for banking, insurance, higher education, and energy (specifically oil and gas) institutions.
Despite the ostensible focus on the industries mentioned above however, the threat is widescale, as recent events have illustrated:
While Mr. Thompson’s brutal murder was tragic, to some extent, it should not be particularly surprising. A 2021 poll conducted by the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence found that 64% of respondents noted that their company was experiencing an increase in physical threat activity. Furthermore, 22% of the companies interviewed had received direct physical threats towards the CEO and their families, in addition to executive kidnapping threats (15%). Finally, a staggering 10% of the research sample had experienced an active shooter event.
Multinationals, and indeed, most companies, have quickly realised the clear and present danger that technical and cyber-attacks pose, and have consistently spent billions of dollars to mitigate them. However, it seems that the physical threat is an issue that businesses have consistently overlooked or struggled to define and counter.
As is the case for all complex challenges, there is not a ‘silver bullet’ solution – it is a multi- faceted dilemma requiring a pragmatic and layered approach. As a baseline minimum, a potential target’s online vulnerability, travel threat level, and security profile should be considered.
In October 2024, United Healthcare had made the details of their investor meeting public via LinkedIn and market-facing corporate communications – it was the critical piece of information that Luigi Mangione (the alleged killer) needed, a time and place.
By using sophisticated, but commercially available software, an online vulnerability assessment (OVA) performed by an experienced technical expert can be a powerful tool to help identify a business-leader’s exposure to a physical threat.
It is unlikely that most c-suite executives would require, or even want, round-the-clock physical protection. The approach should be pragmatic, layered, and based on the perceived threat. A relatively simple RAG-rated system predicated upon likely business-trip destinations, intelligence sentiment, and flash-point summaries would quickly identify whether a physical threat exists, and if it does, the best profile to adopt.
Ensuring a nuanced physical protection profile, which can be nimble enough to flex up or down depending on the threat, is key. The mere presence of overt protection in some cases creates an exposure that is arguably detrimental to safety and can be psychologically demanding for the principal.
Depending on the threat, a balance towards a more discrete approach should always be the start-point for c-suite professionals – a ‘light touch’ profile.
The physical threat to business-leaders is a constantly evolving one that requires cutting edge knowledge and insight to effectively deliver – it is tangible, dangerous and needs definitive action today. These capabilities require dedicated and experienced professionals, adopting a holistic, pragmatic, and nuanced approach, to deliver them effectively.
If you wish to discuss any of the topics mentioned in this article, please contact a member of our team.