Four steps corporations can take to reduce risks to executives

For US corporations, the targeted killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, along with the subsequent outpouring of online vitriol against insurance and pharmaceutical executives, was jarring. However, the murder and its aftermath reflect a trend that began long before the incident and will likely intensify.

The “personalization” of politically motivated violence and extremism—identified as one of our Top Risks for 2025—has deepened over the past few years. This trend has been supercharged by political polarization, anger at institutions, personal grievance and a mental health crisis. It has manifested in spikes in online threats to executives and increases in the targeting of politicians and other public servants at the federal, state and local levels. Thompson’s murder should be viewed within this context.

Control Risks advises C-suites and corporate security functions on tactical risk mitigation—things that must be addressed now—and macro trends that corporations must be aware of and prepare for. Thompson’s murder demonstrates the critical overlap between these two areas of risk.

Here are four steps corporations can take to reduce the risks to their executives and provide peace of mind:

In the wake of Thompson’s murder, Control Risks has been advising clients across various sectors to take action in these areas while supporting them with threat mitigation strategies. The threats posed by extremism and political violence continue to evolve. The four steps above will help ensure your organization is not caught off guard.