As corporations and their boards struggle to protect the C-suite UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson murdered , Scrubbing Company Web Sites Bios and Photos – They are facing a big issue.
Many officers do not want to deal with the drastic lifestyle change that comes with having a bodyguard.
“Unless they’re former Mossad members, they’re probably not going to be that helpful,” a high-level executive away from security told NYNext. “I don’t want to hang out with bodyguards.”
This person explained that he has been with many people who have guards to see how it can interfere with your life – the irritation of having someone’s personal moments invaded and never feeling alone. If anything, he believes, “it makes you more unique.”
Indeed, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of the Yale School of Management said, “Most CEOs don’t want security.”
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they are more willing to take security into their own hands and increase security measures. This ranges from applying for a concealed carry permit to purchasing a pepper spray “pistol” (a Byrna gun, which advertises itself as a “less lethal weapon”) to, in one case, even bullets. Including wearing a proof jacket.
Another source, who acknowledged he is worried about being targeted by disgruntled shareholders, said that since Thompson’s shooting he tries to be more aware of his surroundings when walking around. But he will be able to protect himself instead of outsourcing his security.
“It’s very affecting,” he explains.
But for boards – who could be on the hook for shareholder lawsuits if they aren’t adequately protecting executives – security is a priority.
“It’s not the first agenda item … but it’s pretty high up,” Sonnenfeld said.
“There is panic in corporate America. If something happens to the CEO of a public company, it will affect the stock price,” said Mac Segal, whose AHNA Group provides protection to wealthy individuals and corporations. “Interest and requests have increased by 30% [for security] During the last week.”
Another security expert pointed out that Meta, which spent about $25 million on executive security last year—dramatically more than almost any other major corporation—does not feel obligated to do what board members do, The environment is being prepared for this.
“Without a doubt, that number is already growing – it’s on the minds of every major company now,” said Kevin Hartz, former CEO of Eventbrite, who recently launched Sauron, a high-end home security monitoring company. Is.
While bodyguards are the most obvious sign of security, security experts are quick to note that there are other, less obtrusive ways to keep officers safe.
“It’s not about people in dark suits and glasses,” Segal said, noting that in some areas, they “can often be a status symbol.”
Instead, it’s about “risk monitoring” – paying attention to threats on social media, perhaps sending an advance team to scout a location before an officer arrives, or monitoring events at company events, the office, and even To protect the entry and exit of that person’s house. ,
“You can opt for a low-profile approach,” he said, noting that he always offers clients multiple options. “Security is like medicine: Security companies shouldn’t prescribe anything [like bodyguards] If they don’t know what’s right for the company.”
A group that is pro-bodyguard? So-called “cryptocurrencies” fear being targeted because their digital assets can be accessed with just a password and transferred to an unknown user online.
Tadas Kasputis, founder of crypto exchange XMarkets, told cryptonews He received bodyguards after being kidnapped in his hometown of Lithuania in 2015.
“They came out of nowhere,” he recalled, “pushed me into a van and drove me around town and tried to get me to tell them my Bitcoin wallet password.”
this is part of the story NYNext, a new editorial series Which highlights New York City’s innovations as well as leading figures across a variety of industries.
