Experts say companies need to rethink executive security after the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO

After the brazen murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City last week, experts say companies must rethink their investments in executives’ personal security.

Thompson was shot and killed outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, in what police described as an “intentional and targeted attack.”

Luigi Mangione, the suspect in Thompson’s shooting death, was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and charged with forgery, no firearms offense without a license, tampering with records or identity, possession of tools of crime and providing false identification to law. Law enforcement authorities, according to a police criminal complaint.

Charles Randolph, chief security officer at Ontic, a provider of threat management software, said company leaders “now face a critical question: How vulnerable are we?”

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Randolph told FOX Business that companies are “at the center of risk,” caught between “activism, geopolitics and personal grievances.”

“The current business environment is often polarized, driven by misinformation, divisive rhetoric and overwhelming threat signals,” Randolph said.

He added that risks manifest themselves in various forms, from cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure to “stark reminders such as the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which demonstrates that no leader is immune to physical threats no matter how significant.”

Today, not only do organizations need to make better risk decisions, Randolph said leaders must prioritize collecting useful risk information that helps their teams use resources wisely.

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“Companies must reevaluate their threat landscape, especially as geopolitical and activist environments evolve,” Randolph said. “A solid understanding of where an organization operates and how emerging issues could impact it is essential to establishing a risk baseline – a foundation for all subsequent strategies.”

Randolph warned that threats often start with “hidden signals,” such as an unusual email or a network glitch.

“If these indicators are ignored, they can escalate into significant issues,” he said, adding that “effective risk management requires vigilance through strategies such as network analysis, sentiment tracking, and anomaly detection to predict and mitigate threats before they materialize.”

Gene Petrino, retired SWAT commander and co-owner of Survival Response LLC, told FOX Business that companies must start prioritizing the safety of their executives and employees.

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However, convincing companies to invest in comprehensive security programs will require “reframing the conversation,” Petrino said. “It’s not about preventing what might happen, it’s about protecting the organization’s leadership, reputation and continuity.”

He said effective executive protection should be viewed as a strategic investment in organizational resilience, not just an expense.

“The lack of incidents may make it seem as if the investment is not necessary, even though it is the result of proactive security measures,” he said. “This shift in thinking is essential as the risk landscape evolves. Companies that adapt quickly and take proactive steps to mitigate risk not only protect their executives; they also Protect their future.“

Fox News’ Luis Casiano contributed to this report