Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO leaves executives searching for certainty: experts

The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday will “raise executives’ awareness of vulnerabilities” and likely lead to a wave of new security contracts, experts told Fox News Digital.

In an ambush captured on surveillance video, a gunman with his face covered aimed a pistol with a silencer at Thompson at 6:46 a.m. Wednesday outside the Midtown Hilton Hotel shot the manager three times.

Former New York homeland security consultant Michael Balboni told Fox News Digital that at least one potential client, the head of a major financial institution, specifically mentioned the shooting when he called and asked for an executive protection assessment by his company, Redland Strategies Inc . asked.

“In the short term, this incident highlights the need to conduct threat assessments not only on infrastructure or systems, but also on key personnel,” he said. “Therefore, the security personnel are likely to be at capacity.”

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Surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows the suspect wanted in the shooting of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. (NYPD)

“But in the long run complacency will return,” he added.

Retired NYPD detective Pat Brosnan, CEO of Brosnan Investigations Group and former head of Brosnan Risk Consultants, told Fox News Digital that the murder “sparked meetings of senior security officials across the country within hours of the murder.” .”

“These emergency meetings were prompted by the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Thompson’s murder: a clearly targeted assassination attempt early in the morning by a calm and eerily composed assassin with clear knowledge of the use of the weapon; the necessary means and foresight to equip the weapon with a device that is very difficult to use. obtain silencers; and, probably most disturbing, (possession of) inside information about the target’s schedule.”

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This undated UnitedHealth Group photo shows Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group)

“His methodical and calm repair of the weapon when it jammed probably caused fear and terror in each of the CSOs (Chief Security Officers),” he said. “It is exactly this type of apparent professionalism, linear focus on its mission and precise exit strategy coupled with specific intelligence about the target’s movements that keeps CSOs up late at night.”

“I am sure this has caused many of them to quickly reassess their current security protocols and procedures to protect themselves from copycats,” Brosnan continued.

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Philip Klein — whose security company has provided bodyguards to Thompson in the past — told the Wall Street Journal that he was surprised that his former client was not accompanied on Wednesday.

“It was normal for this company to have its own private security team looking after its company executives,” Klein told the outlet.

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A screenshot from surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. (NYPD Crime Stoppers)

Fox News Digital previously reported that Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, said there had been recent threats against her husband.

“There were some threats,” she told NBC News. “Basically, I don’t know, a lack of reporting? I don’t know any details. All I know is that he said there were some people who threatened him.”

Although there was a spike in risk assessments following the shooting, Balboni said it would likely be short-lived.

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“During the Black Lives Matter movement, for example, there was an increase in retail security,” he said. “But time passes, and that passes.”

“Concern may increase, but there will be a return to complacency,” he continued. “In the short term, yes, (executives will) at least get an assessment on these things to get professionals to do that… But more executives I know are saying, ‘Not me, someone else, that’s not going to happen.’ happens to me.’”

“All sorts of problems can arise – it becomes a personality thing,” he continued. “You (often) live with the protected one… A lot of people, after a certain amount of time, say, ‘Enough, I don’t want you around anymore.'”