UK CSOs warn of threat to executives

Image courtesy Allied Universal / G4S

This escalating risk is underscored by global institutional investors, with 97% saying it is important companies invest in protecting their executives and seven in 10 agreeing senior executives’ contributions to strategic decision making, leadership and innovation represents 30% or more of the value of the companies they invest in. 

Activist groups are also viewed as a significant threat to corporate security, with 81% of UK security chiefs saying they increasingly pose a risk to facilities and executives – this is the highest level of concern of those surveyed in Europe.

“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,” said Tim Kendall, president of G4S Secure Solutions UK&I. “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.” 

These are key findings from the World Security Report 2025, commissioned by Allied Universal and its international business, G4S.

A total of 2,352 CSOs, or those in equivalent roles, working for medium and large, global companies, in 31 countries, with a combined annual revenue exceeding $25 trillion, were surveyed. Fifty-eight CSOs in the UK and 468 in Europe were surveyed. The report also incorporates the crucial perspectives of 200 global institutional investors managing over $1 trillion in assets. 

Misinformation and disinformation, which can put executives at greater risk of harm, is commonplace in the UK and 69% of companies have been targeted by such a campaign in the last 12 months. What’s more, 45% of security chiefs in the UK say mis/disinformation motivates at least half of threat actors targeting their businesses (41% global average and 41% regional average).

The top driver of intentional insider threats, according to 50% of UK security chiefs, is financial stress or personal debt – this is not only the highest rate in Europe but the joint second highest rate in the world. More UK security chiefs than anywhere else in Europe also say a toxic workplace and revenge against employer or management are contributing factors to intentional insider threats.

Further UK key findings:

Measures to mitigate the threat of violence to company executives 

• 60% are conducting enhanced security procedures, this is the highest rate in Europe (49% Global average, 39% Europe average). 
• 53% provide leaders with personal protective equipment (e.g., body armor, emergency escape masks), this is the highest rate in Europe (34% Global average, 29% Europe average).
• 43% provide risk assessment for leaders, the second-highest in Europe after Belgium (45% Global average, 39% Europe average).
• 40% are monitoring online threats such as social media and the dark web,  this is the highest rate in Europe (44% Global average and 34% Europe average).
• 40% provide leaders personal/close security personnel, this is the highest in Europe (35% global average and 31% Europe average).
• 40% provide training and preparedness for leaders (i.e. self defence, awareness or de-escalation training), this is the second-highest in Europe after Belgium (40% Global average, 36% Europe average).
• 34% provide family protection for leaders, this is the highest in Europe(25% Global average and 21% Europe average).

Intentional insiders

• 40% say a toxic workplace has significantly contributed to intentional insider threats in their environment (32% global average, 28% Europe average).
• 36% say revenge against employer or management has significantly contributed to intentional insider threats in their environment (30% Global average, 29% Europe average).

External threats

• 26% say fraud is the top external threat anticipated next year, up from 22% who experienced this last year (30% global average, 29% Europe average).

Budget and priorities

• 69% say their budget will increase over the next year (66% global average)
• 52% say AI-powered video surveillance and analytics is the cutting-edge security technology that is most crucial to their operations over the next two years (45% global average and 28% Europe average).

Countries surveyed in Europe were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The report is based on anonymous online survey responses of 2,352 chief security officers – or those in equivalent positions – at medium and large, global companies across 31 countries with combined annual revenue of more than $25 trillion. Research was carried out between 21st March and 16th April 2025. 

The selected group of 200 global institutional investors managing more than $1 trillion of assets, also took part in an anonymous online survey between 8th and 14th of April 2025.

To view the report: worldsecurityreport.com