CFOs Struggle to Price Surging Executive Security Costs

The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson in New York on Dec. 4, 2024, accelerated a shift in corporate security from an executive perk to an enterprise risk. Companies are expanding personal protection, residential monitoring, secure travel and cybersecurity because an attack on a key leader can disrupt decision-making, succession and valuation. CFOs, however, still lack a standard method to quantify avoided losses or compare those benefits with rising program costs.

A December 2025 survey by compensation adviser Pearl Meyer covering 258 organizations found 65% had no formal CEO security program and only 9% offered comprehensive, multilayered protection. Some 73% relied on informal judgment when making security decisions, while just 10% used structured assessments. Annual spending was below $10,000 at 66% of respondents, while only 10% spent at least $200,000, underscoring the wide gap between limited safeguards and integrated protection programs.