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In addition to their typically higher profile, public companies may also have heightened security concerns for their executives since they are often required by Regulation FD to disclose their executives’ involvement in certain public events, so it’s common for high-profile public companies to engage and pay for personal security services for their CEOs and other senior executives. Some public companies also require their executives to use company aircraft for personal travel due to security concerns.

The December 2024 shooting of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has caused public companies to reassess — and sometimes enhance — their security arrangements and other measures they take to protect the safety of their executives. We’ve recently posted a new “Checklist: Executive Security” that addresses the following topics — all of which boards and management teams should be aware of as they consider changes to executive security programs:

– Recent trends in personal security spending by public companies

– Additional steps companies are now considering to minimize risks to their management teams

– Board fiduciary duty considerations

– SEC disclosure requirements

– Institutional investor and proxy advisor positions

– Tax and benefit implications of personal security arrangements

– John Jenkins