Overview

• An Allied Universal survey of 2,352 security chiefs across 31 countries found 42% reporting a significant rise in threats to company leaders, jumping to 66% among U.S.-based chiefs at large technology firms.
• Allied CEO Steve Jones said the number of executives under protection has doubled since UnitedHealthcare chief Brian Thompson was killed last year, with five times more security assessments conducted in the first half of 2025 than in any prior full fiscal year.
• Three in four security leaders said their companies were targeted by misinformation or disinformation, which the survey linked to elevated risks for staff.
• Firms are expanding close protection, travel risk assessments and online threat monitoring, with increased spending that includes more cameras and biometric access planned at HSBC.
• G4S reporting shows 34% of UK security chiefs see higher threats since 2023 and 81% view activist groups as a growing risk, with UK leaders citing insider motives such as financial stress (50%), toxic workplaces (40%) and revenge (36%).