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murder of united healthcare Led by CEO Brian Thompson Centeneplanning to switch to another major health insurance company virtual investor day in place of an in-person event scheduled in New York.
Thompson’s killing also prompted some major health care companies, including UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, to remove photos of executives and directors from their websites.
And the health insurance company MedicaThe Minnesota-based company, like UnitedHealthcare, closed its main campus in Minnetonka due to employee safety concerns.
“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have enhanced security for all of our employees,” a Medica spokesperson told NBC News.
“While we have not received any specific threats related to our campus, we are temporarily closing our office building out of an abundance of caution,” a spokesperson said.
Centene, which announced the switch to a virtual event on Friday, is one of the largest Medicaid insurers and was scheduled to hold an investor day on Friday. new york stock exchange Next Thursday.
“Following the tragic death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Centene’s Investor Day will be held virtually,” Centene said in a statement.
Thompson was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman on Wednesday morning outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan as he entered the hotel to attend an investor day for UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare. Ta. The event was abruptly canceled after UHG leadership learned of the killing.
Police believe Thompson was specifically targeted by the gunman, who left a shell casing with the words “Deny,” “Delay,” and “Expel” written on it. This term may refer to a term used by critics of insurance companies to identify strategies for denying customer claims.
A poster is placed on a lamppost outside the Hilton Hotel near the scene where United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA, on December 5, 2024.
Mike Seeger | Reuters
“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by the death of Brian Thompson and would like to express our support to all those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community. CenTeam Many of our members passed through Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah London said in a statement.
“He was a man of deep empathy and a clear passion for improving access to care. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this difficult time.”
Centene’s website had no photos of its executives on Friday.
UnitedHealth has removed a webpage that linked to photos and information about executives.
web page of humana‘s Board of Directors no longer includes photos or information about these people.
CVS Health The company also removed photos of management from its website.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a group of independent health insurance companies, has been removed Link to that executive History on the website, healthcaredive.com Reported.
CEO Chris Pearson black cloakThe company, which provides private digital security to executives and their families, told CNBC that events expected to be attended by executives from publicly traded companies and photos of executives and directors will be published on company websites. He said he would be the target of harassment and intimidation. .
Ben Jolson, president and head of security risk at Chertoff Group, said in an interview that it’s a “prudent move” for insurance companies and other companies to remove images of executives and directors.
“What they’re trying to do is basically reduce what’s out there in terms of the online risk surface and the digital dust that exists around executives,” Joelson said. “As we learn more about this particular motive, I think there are some clues that this was clearly targeted based on the executive position. Companies are reacting and adjusting their protection profiles accordingly. I will.”
He also said the company is helping “several Fortune 500 clients re-evaluate their approach to investor meetings and shareholder meetings to ensure they build a bubble of protection around key decision-makers.” He also said that
“Pre-announcement of an event in a location and knowing who will be there increases the risk of that event, so you need to plan accordingly,” Joelson said.
Joelson said Chertoff Group has seen an increase in security inquiries from companies since the two assassination attempts on President-elect Donald Trump.
“Some of our clients and boards have asked us, ‘Are we doing what’s best for management?'” Joelson said. “‘Are we doing what a normal, reasonably prudent company should do?'”
Doug Mandel, a partner at law firm Wizards Worldwide who negotiates executive contracts that include security clauses, said in an interview that most executives find personal security onerous.
But Mandel expects more clients will seek additional protection from the board in the wake of Thompson’s murder.
“The CEO was on his way to a shareholder meeting…and they had been threatened before,” Mandel said.
“Certainly he needed security, and I think a lot of other CEOs would say to their companies, ‘Okay, I’m going to be in a situation where I really need protection.'”
“It used to be more common to travel abroad. Now they would think of it locally,” Mandel said.
