The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has led major health insurers such as Centene and United Health Group to hold virtual investor days instead of in-person events. Other companies, including Humana, CVS Health, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, have also removed photos of executives from their websites.
Thompson was fatally shot outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning by an unidentified gunman who left behind shell casings with specific terms related to insurance company strategy. The police believe that Thompson was specifically targeted.
Centene announced a change to its investor day event, citing safety concerns after the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO. The company will now host its investor day virtually instead of in person at the New York Stock Exchange.
The annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference scheduled for next month in San Francisco is also increasing security measures to minimize potential impact from the assassination. Organizers are working with the host hotel and city to increase security, but the event will still attract thousands of registered participants and CEOs.
Health insurer Medica closed its main campus in Minnesota due to safety concerns after Thompson’s killing. The company stated that it prioritizes employee safety and increased security measures for its staff.
Industry experts say that companies should re-evaluate their approach to investor meetings and shareholder events, especially with the rise of targeted attacks on high-profile executives.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/06/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-health-insurers-photos-centene-meeting.html