UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing Has Planners Rethinking Security

High-profile CEOs are a fixture at many corporate and association events. The pressure on meeting planners to keep these VIPs – and the rest of their attendees – safe has been amped up since the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month outside the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel.

Live events have many vulnerabilities: They attract large groups of people, and they are often held in semi-private spaces that can be easily accessed by outsiders. From trade shows to consumer events, they can be the subject of media attention – making them a target.

The responsibility for attendee safety and security often lies in the hands of the meeting planner. In addition to the sponsoring organization, planners can be held legally responsible for actions such as not conducting a proper risk assessment to identify potential dangers, not informing attendees of potential threats, or not communicating emergency procedures.

By law, hotels must also take reasonable steps to identify and mitigate potential risks, provide adequate security, and respond promptly to any incidents that may occur.

“Everything Has Shifted”

“Historically, many executives have moved freely at events, with security primarily focused on venue protocols for high-profile gatherings. Now, everything has shifted. Companies are reassessing how they protect leadership,” said Wendy Porter, founder of Wendy Porter Events, who has spent decades planning events for Fortune 500 companies. 

“For planners, this means a new layer of responsibility: balancing the need for security with the visibility and accessibility leaders value. It’s a difficult but necessary conversation as we adapt to this new reality.”

The Frightening Truth About the UnitedHealthcare CEO

Even when organizations invest in security measures such as private travel options and on-site protection. “Gaps can still occur, especially during seemingly routine moments,” said Porter. Thompson did not have security accompanying him that morning.

Planners are only responsible for what happens when the CEO is physically at their events, not traveling to them. “But the reality is, executive safety often comes down to decisions made in the moment,” she said. “Leaders may forgo security, believing, ‘It’s just a short walk,’ or ‘I’ll be fine.’” 

What Can Planners Do Differently?

Security experts say the most important thing is to start risk management planning early. “Each venue is different and requires its own specific strategy and roadmap, which can be complex,” said Ty Richmond, president of Allied Universal’s event services division. “This requires extensive coordination, communication and advance planning with the venue’s facility management and event management teams and local law enforcement to devise best practices for a wide range of emergency scenarios.”

Brittany Smiley, former executive vice president, life sciences at MGME, recalls a previous role where she worked on the Eli Lilly account. “From the beginning to the end, security was a crucial component of the planning process. It was customary for a member of the CEO’s security team to attend every status call, along with taking part in site visits.

“This included detailed assessments of venue access points, transit routes and backup plans, especially for events that were held abroad.”

What if an organization has no internal security? Should planners hire a consultant in light of recent events? “I don't think it’s necessary all the time,” said Dave Komendat, president of Komendat Risk Management Services and retired chief security officer at Boeing. “You need to understand the potential threat or risk associated with that particular group.

“Are you talking about a technology company or healthcare company, where a product or a service offered by that organization is the focus of strong opinions? If it’s reasonably expected that there could be a problem either within the event itself or for people trying to get into the event, then planners need to consider it.”

One anonymous planner for a pharmaceutical company with its own internal security detail said she added a police officer on site for an upcoming meeting. She also suggests using back entrances and hallways, with escorts to the meeting space, to keep VIPs away from the public.

Where a photo ID or badge entry might have been enough in the past, planners can coordinate with the venue to add video surveillance, or even metal detectors.

“The goal is to not make it feel like a police state, but also to make sure that anyone who would attempt to disrupt the event would see that the level of security will make it hard for them to do,” said Komendat.