British executives are facing a sharp rise in threats as activism, polarisation and misinformation reshape the corporate risk landscape, according to new research from G4S.

The security group’s latest World Security Report found that more than a third (34%) of UK-based security chiefs at large global firms believe violence towards senior leaders has increased since 2023. UK companies were more likely than their European peers to provide close protection officers, family security, and online threat monitoring for their chief executives and chief financial officers.

The report highlights activism as a growing driver of corporate risk. Some 81% of UK security heads said activist groups increasingly pose threats to company sites and bosses – the highest level recorded in Europe. Water companies in particular have stepped up security, following intense criticism over bills and environmental performance.

Tim Kendall, president of G4S Secure Solutions UK and Ireland, said recent cases in the US – including the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson – had sparked “copycat” behaviour. “Certainly incidents of disgruntled individuals choosing to take actions against company chief executives is more prevalent,” he said.

Financial stress was cited as the top motivation for insider threats by half of UK respondents, ahead of revenge or toxic workplace culture. Meanwhile, misinformation has become a mainstream risk: 69% of firms reported being targeted by disinformation campaigns in the past year, with 45% saying false narratives motivated at least half of the threats they faced.

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

Smaller firms may not need bodyguards, but they face the same vulnerabilities to misinformation, online harassment and activist scrutiny.

As businesses grow more visible, founders and leaders may need to balance openness with protection – building resilience not only in operations but also in how they manage public perception and digital threats.