Top-Level Managers Worry About Potential Increase in Targeted Attacks, Following the Shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
The shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan has sent shockwaves through corporate executive suites nationwide, prompting leaders to grapple with uncomfortable questions about their own vulnerability in the face of a threat landscape that appears more ominous than many had previously believed.
Phone lines are blowing up at high-end security firms as they scramble to safeguard corporate leaders.
"Corporate America is on edge," Keith Wojcieszek, global head of intelligence at Kroll, told CNN in a phone interview. "Companies want to beef up their security measures. Healthcare is the current target, but who's next?"
The New York Police Department, in an intelligence report obtained by CNN on Tuesday, suggested that Thompson's murder was a "symbolic takedown" and could serve as a catalyst for future violent acts against business leaders.
Since Thompson's brazen shooting, security firm Global Guardian has received over 70 requests from concerned companies within the first 36 hours – a significant surge, according to Seth Krummrich, a retired US Army Colonel who now serves as the company's vice president.
"This is a major wake-up call. The atmosphere has changed drastically in a short period of time," said Krummrich, whose firm provides protection for corporate executives, their families, and their residences.
Even executives at smaller companies are now considering personal security details, Eduardo Jany, senior vice president of global security and safety at News Corp., said in a phone interview on Tuesday.
"Tension is running high right now. Even some smaller companies will start investing in security," said Jany, who also works as a consultant for other major corporations.
One executive at a major bank told CNN that the UnitedHealthcare CEO's assassination had made clear the risks facing senior leaders in Corporate America.
"The lesson here is that if you want to eliminate someone, you can. It's scary, but true," said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It's hard to believe we're only just recognizing this now."
The threats could come from anywhere and anyone.
Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old charged with Thompson's murder, attended a prestigious private school and graduated from an Ivy League university.
"He's not some reclusive figure like Ted Kaczynski. He shares a similar background to many corporate executives," said Krummrich. "This is a new realm."
"A turning point"
Krummrich advised executives to eliminate as much of their digital footprint as possible, including information about their home addresses and their children's schools.
Many corporations will now increase security personnel at their offices and residences, ramp up mail screening, and focus on the public events executives attend, said Fred Burton, executive director of protective intelligence at Ontic.
"This is a turning point," said Burton, a former US Secret Service official who later worked at the Diplomatic Security Service, the security agency of the US State Department.
Security experts are expressing concern that this killing may not be an isolated incident, given the positive reaction it received on social media.
"The likelihood of copycat events increases significantly. Consider the situation before and after Columbine for school shootings," said Krummrich. "I am extremely concerned about the precedent this sets going forward. That's what's keeping me up at night."
Jany, the News Corp. security executive, is worried about the attention Mangione is receiving following his arrest on Monday.
"Reports suggest that girls are admiring this guy. This level of notoriety could trigger copycats. And let's be honest, some business leaders are vulnerable," Jany said.
Backlash against "corporate greed"
The NYPD's intelligence report suggested that Thompson's murder may have been driven by anger against the health insurance industry and "corporate greed" as a whole.
"This rhetoric may indicate an increased threat facing executives in the short term, with the shooting potentially serving as a catalyst for a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors," the NYPD report said.
Bill George, former CEO of medical device maker Medtronic, expressed concern over the public reaction to Thompson's assassination.
"We're living in a society where we've unleashed violent forces. Companies are going to take this very seriously," said George, an executive fellow at the Harvard Business School.
An expensive undertaking
Experts agree that the security measures now required to protect many top CEOs should be extended to their subordinates.
Thompson led UnitedHealthcare, the health insurance division within UnitedHealth Group, a large insurance conglomerate. While Thompson was relatively unknown to the public, his unit generated nearly $300 billion in revenue last year alone.
Many other corporations in finance, media, technology, and other sectors have division CEOs who are crucial to business operations but do not receive the same level of security protection as their top executives.
"Security for all of your senior executives – and even your board members – is essential," said George.
But implementing this level of security is not without its challenges. Some senior executives may be reluctant to deal with the additional hassle and attention that increased security could bring.
"CEOs don't want to live in a world where they go to their son's baseball game and security is necessary," said George.
It's also extremely costly to provide this level of security.
Private security agencies routinely implement robust safeguards to shield high-ranking officials, encompassing real-world guards, digital risk assessment, cybersecurity measures, property security at home, and protective measures for the executive's spouse and immediate family members.
According to an unnamed bank executive, disclosed to CNN, their organization maintains a command center that scrutinizes digital threats–some of which are direct threats against the executive and their family.
Regrettably, not all companies dispose of the necessary means to amplify their security measures in response to the escalating dangers.
As per Krummrich, the CEO of Global Guardian, "Security is a sunk cost. It doesn't generate profit for firms, hence, it's a simple target for budget cuts." One can opt to gamble with the risks while hoping nothing untoward occurs. However, should a misfortune befall, the consequences are significantly more demoralizing, financially burdensome, and damaging to the company's reputation than if they had invested in security proactively.
John Miller of CNN contributed to this report.
Business leaders are seeking help from high-end security firms to strengthen their protection measures due to the increased threat landscape.
The surge in requests for security services from concerned companies follows the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which has prompted a major wake-up call about the need for enhanced security.
