As Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare arrived at a hotel in Manhattan, New York City, for a conference, an assassin lying in wait shot him in the back fatally killing him. His wife confirmed her husband had received threats to his life, but she did not know the specifics of the threats. Apparently, Mr. Thompson was alone as he walked toward the entrance of the hotel.

Executive protection strategies have become a mandatory requirement based on the increase in threats and violence.

The first step in developing an effective executive protection program is to establish a threat assessment methodology. To begin, an executive profile must be developed. Habits, travel destinations, visibility and notoriety must be considered, as well as the company profile.
External threats must be analyzed as well as internal threats from disgruntled former or current employees.

The second step is to develop associations to obtain intelligence on threats to make a threat assessment. Once a threat is received a professional executive protection agent should develop a threat management program to develop a protection strategy to mitigate against the threat.

The third step is to conduct a security risk vulnerability assessment. A risk analysis of the executive’s office, residence, and travel destinations to provide a layered approach to protecting the executive and his/her family.

An emergency response plan to a threat or realized threat should be developed. The blood type of the executive and their family should be on file as well as fingerprints.

Lastly, a high-profile executive should employ executive protection professionals who have the ability to assess a threat and can effectively prepare strategies to mitigate against the threat.