A Strong Executive Protection Program Is Now More Important Than Ever — Here’s How To Get Buy-In
The shocking killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO highlights the critical importance of corporate executive protection programs
The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a targeted and shocking act of violence. For many of you in the security field, this news is a stark reminder of two protection tenets:
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Executives at high-profile corporations have been, and always will be, at risk for this type of violence
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Organizations must prioritize their leaders’ safety and take proactive measures to stay ahead of threats to executives
But gaining support, funding, and buy-in for robust executive protection programs can be a significant challenge. Resistance often comes in the form of misconceptions, such as, “We don’t need bodyguards on staff,” or, “We’ll recognize a threat when it arises.” In many instances, the very executives these programs are designed to protect may not view themselves as at risk or may fail to recognize the unique threats they face in their role as the company’s Chief Executive.
Making the case for a strong executive protection program
Securing support for executive protection and protective intelligence programs can be a complex process. To address these challenges, here are some key steps to effectively build a compelling case for investment in these critical initiatives.
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Research: Many corporate executives deny they are at risk or face real threats. Address this by conducting a comprehensive assessment (completing our executive digital footprint assessment is a good start) to uncover any existing information that might indicate a threat to them, the organization, or their family that might require further investigation.
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Educate: Explain that executive protection programs are more than bodyguards. Highlight how effective executive protection is risk-based and requires comprehensive POI management, strong research, and quality investigations. Share real examples of intelligence you’ve gathered and walk through what it takes to further investigate this information and enable decisions to mitigate any identified risks.
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Quantify the risks: Emphasize the broader risks beyond physical harm, such as business continuity and brand reputation. Speak in terms that resonate with leaders, including return on investment (ROI), potential losses from downtime or litigation, and reputational damage. In extreme cases, public events impacting an executive can significantly impact stock prices.
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Emphasize potential legal implications: While there isn’t one single law or regulation for you to point to that requires you to provide duty of care outside of your physical location, you can highlight the potential outcomes of negligence or liability claims. In many situations, these cases can have credibility — especially if prior knowledge of a threat can be proven.
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Present solutions: When approaching leadership with a problem, always follow it up with a solution. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the required resources, including personnel, necessary technology, and associated costs for monitoring and implementation. Develop a detailed outline of the specific investments needed, and provide a clear roadmap for execution. Highlight the contrast between these investments and the potential costs of the preventable risks identified earlier. Collaborate with trusted partners and internal stakeholders to enhance your research and strengthen your case with additional supporting elements.
You’re not alone
Corporate boards and executives have historically hesitated to invest in long-term, ongoing security programs, such as executive protection. Often, the budget and resources teams receive after an incident will dwindle a few months later. This happens when the discussion with leadership is focused on the incident rather than ongoing risk mitigation.
If you’re encountering resistance, it’s a challenge many face. However, now is the time to persist. Success lies in educating decision-makers about their specific risks, quantifying them in clear, actionable terms, and presenting a well-defined plan that outlines the steps required to establish and implement your program effectively.
At Ontic, we’re always here to help. Whether you’re an existing client or a security professional looking for support, contact our team anytime for advice on making the case for these critical investments.
Executive protection resources
You can also head to Ontic Resources for more articles and guides like this. We’ve collected a few helpful resources below.
For more advice on making the case for security investments, download one of our guides:
- A Guide to Gaining Approval and Budget: Advice from Corporate Security Leaders
- How to Prove the Value of Corporate Security
To benchmark your executive protection program, you can compare your current processes to those outlined in our checklists:
- How to Run Thorough Investigations on Threats to Executives
- How to Assess Your Executive’s Digital Footprint to Identify Threats
Read up on trends in executive protection in our articles:
- 4 Executive Travel Vulnerabilities You May be Overlooking
- Emerging Technology Highlights New Converged Risks and Asymmetric Threats
- Family Offices: What They Get Right About Security, and What Companies Can Learn from Them
We also have a great podcast episode What Protection Teams Can Do To Navigate the Increase in Swatting and two deep-dive webinars on protective intelligence:
