Boards tighten executive security as threats rise

Corporate boards are tightening security for top executives as concerns about threats grow. Some companies now require CEOs to use corporate aircraft for personal travel, a shift from the long-standing practice of treating personal safety as a private matter. "The risk is everywhere," said Dale Buckner, reflecting a sense that the old assumptions no longer apply.

The December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City and a shooting at a Park Avenue office building months later undermined the idea that corporate leaders were insulated from violence. Mentions of executive security in proxy filings have increased, with an AlphaSense analysis showing rises from 69 in 2023 to 87 in 2025.

United States, New York City

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