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The killing from United Health Care CEO Brian Thomson lead Hundredsanother large health insurer, to switch to virtual investor day instead of a planned personal event in New York.
Thompson's killing has also prompted some major health companies, including parent company UnitedHealthcare, to remove photos. officers and board members from their websites.
And the health insurer Medicinewhich is Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare, has closed its main campus in Minnetonka due to safety concerns for its employees.
“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security for all of our employees,” a Medica spokesperson told NBC News.
“Although we have not received any specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed with sufficient warning,” the spokesperson said.
Centene, which announced the switch to a virtual event Friday, is one of the largest Medicaid insurers and was expected to have its deposition day at the New York Stock Exchange this thursday.
Centene said in a statement that “due to the tragic loss of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Centene's Investment Day will now be held virtually.”
Thompson was fatally shot Wednesday morning by an unknown gunman outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan as he was about to enter the hotel for the day. -investor UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. The event was abruptly canceled after UHG bosses found out about the murder.
Police believe Thompson was specifically targeted by the gunman, who left behind shell casings with the words “deny,” “delay,” and “depose.” The words may refer to terms used by critics of insurance companies to describe their strategy for rejecting customer claims.
A poster is attached to a lamppost outside the Hilton hotel near the spot where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City, US, December 5, 2024.
Mike Fresh | Reuters
“All of us at Centene are saddened by the death of Brian Thomson and we want to show our support to everyone affected by this. Health insurance is a big business and a small community; Many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah London said in a statement.
“He was a man with a deep sense of compassion and a clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts go out to his family and colleagues at this difficult time.”
Centene's website did not have pictures of its directors on its website on Friday.
UnitedHealth took down their web page that linked to photos and information about their top executives.
The web page for pe Humanthere are no pictures or information about these people on the leaderboard anymore.
CVS Health they also removed pictures of their top executives from their website.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a group of independent health insurers, removed contact his supervisor biographies on her website, Healthcaredive.com reported.
Chris Pierson, CEO A black clockwhich provides private digital security for C-suite executives and their families, told CNBC that disclosures of events expected of executives of public companies, and photos of their leadership and board members on company websites, are making them targets for harassment and threats. .
Ben Joelson, principal and head of security risk at the Chertoff Group, said in an interview that insurers and other companies removing images of their executives and board members “is a sensible step.”
“What they're trying to do is basically reduce the risk surface online and what's out there in terms of digital dust that's available around their operators,” Joelson said. “I think as we learn more about this particular cause, and obviously, there are indications that this was … clearly targeted based on the executive's position, companies respond.” and changing their defense profiles accordingly.”
He also said that his firm is “helping a number of clients in the Fortune 500 right now to reevaluate their approach to investor meetings, shareholder meetings, and ensure that they have that protective bubble around their key decision makers.”
“When you pre-identify an event at a location and know who will be there, you increase the risk of that event, and you have to plan for that accordingly,” Joelson said.
Joelson said that the Chertoff Group has seen an increase in questions from companies about their security since the two assassination attempts of President Donald Trump.
“Some clients and boards have been asking, 'Are we doing what's best for our executives?' ” said Joelson. ” 'Are we doing what a normal, reasonable company should be doing?' “
Doug Mandell, a partner at the law firm Withersworldwide, which negotiates contracts for executives that include security provisions, said in an interview that most executives believe that personal security harassing
But Mandell expects to see more clients asking for additional protection on their boards after Thompson's murder.
“The CEO was on his way to a meeting for his shareholders … and they have had threats before,” Mandell said.
“Obviously, he should have had security. And I think a lot of other CEOs are going to say to their companies, 'OK, I'm going into a situation where do I really need their protection.” “
“In the past, it was much more common if they traveled abroad. Now, they're going to think about this locally,” said Mandell.
