UK executives hire bodyguards as threats to bosses rise, GPS report finds

British corporate security chiefs are increasingly hiring protection for executives and their families as violent threats against business leaders surge over the past two years, according to a new World Security Report from GPS.

The report finds 34% of UK-based security chiefs at large global companies say threats have risen since 2023, the highest figure among European peers. About 81% say activist groups pose a risk to company sites and to senior leaders, the most-common concern in Europe.

Security leaders are expanding protective measures, including close protection officers for chief executives and chief financial officers, personal protection for family members, enhanced personal protective equipment, online threat monitoring and more stringent security procedures, the report notes.

'We have entered a new era,' Tim Kendall, president of G4S Secure Solutions in the UK and Ireland, said. 'The threats to both company executives and their businesses are changing at an unprecedented pace. The prevalence of activist groups in the UK is also a major concern and security leaders are seeking to stay ahead of threats before they escalate.'

Beyond the UK, the United States shows a similar rise in risk: 49% of US security chiefs report increasing threats to bosses of listed companies, and Kendall said there has been a spate of 'copycat' attacks. It also cites the killing of Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, in Manhattan in December 2024 after threats related to medical coverage.

In the UK, about half of security heads attribute insider threats to financial stress or personal debt, the highest share in Europe and the second-highest in the world. Other motives include a toxic workplace (40%) and revenge against an employer or management (36%).

The report also notes that misinformation and disinformation are commonplace in the UK, with 69% of companies targeted by such campaigns in the past year, and 45% of security chiefs saying misinformation underpins at least half of threat actors targeting their businesses.

Mr Kendall said, 'We have entered a new era where the rise of false information amid increasing polarisation is impacting corporate security and much more robust protection measures, monitoring and intelligence gathering is being done to protect senior executives.'

Security officials say water-sector clients have requested increased protection as the industry faces public scrutiny over rising bills and environmental performance.

Activist groups targeting UK offices have included pro-Palestinian actions at Allianz offices in October 2024; officials say London now sees more activist activity than two years ago.

The GPS World Security Report underscores that risk-management practices are evolving, with greater monitoring and intelligence gathering designed to anticipate threats before they escalate.