Companies step up executive protection after killing of Brian Thompson

The assassination of United Healthcare chief executive Brian Thompson has intensified concerns over executive safety, leading many companies to reassess their security protocols. A new HR Policy Association report, based on responses from 180 CHROs across major public companies, reveals that 73% of firms have specific security measures for executives, with 76% relying on third-party vendors or consultants for implementation. While 37% focus solely on CEO protection, 68% extend measures to all C-suite executives, 51% include board members, and 12% cover other senior leaders. Security decisions are primarily driven by job roles (91%), risk assessments (75%), and specific incidents (66%). Most firms conduct risk assessments on an “as-needed” basis (64%), with others doing so annually (19%), quarterly (4%), or monthly (5%). Ani Huang, senior executive vice president of HR Policy Association, comments “Even if you’re not extremely in the public eye, you can still be a target.” However, challenges persist: Some 70% of CHROs cite evolving threats as a key hurdle, while 30% point to budget constraints and executive resistance as significant barriers to effective security implementation.