The corporate world is expressing concern over new risks after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO.

• On Wednesday, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot while walking unaccompanied to an investor event hosted by his company, a routine activity done by countless American executives.
• The death of Thompson in the heart of corporate America's capital has caused shockwaves in the business world, prompting companies to reevaluate the risks involved in their executive responsibilities.
• ""The board level is now considering the idea of executive protection as everyone is asking, 'Are we safe?'" said Chuck Randolph, chief security officer for Ontic, an Austin, Texas-based provider of threat management software."

On Wednesday, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot while walking unaccompanied to an investor event hosted by his company, a routine activity done by countless American executives.

The death of Thompson in the heart of corporate America's capital has caused shockwaves in the business world, prompting companies to reevaluate the risks associated with even the most routine executive duties.

""The idea of executive protection is now being raised to the board level, and everyone in the industry is feeling this inflection point," said Chuck Randolph, chief security officer for Ontic, an Austin, Texas-based provider of threat management software."

The murder of Thompson, the CEO of the largest private health insurer in the U.S., on a Manhattan sidewalk is the most high-profile incident of threats against corporations in decades, according to security professionals.

As companies hold more public investor events in New York in the coming weeks, their leaders face a greater risk of becoming targets of violence.

The shooter's whereabouts remain unknown, and his motive is still unclear. The words on the shell casings discovered at the crime scene could provide clues about what triggered the gunman.

Did the shooter express any grievances against UnitedHealthcare on online forums and search for information about the investor event? Several healthcare companies have removed photos of executives from their websites, and Centene has made their investor meeting virtual following the shooting.

On Wednesday morning, Thompson was without a security detail, despite known threats against him, according to NYPD officials. UnitedHealth's executives did not receive personal security benefits, as per the company's filings.

If Thompson had arrived earlier, several key factors would have been different. Personnel would have gone to the hotel before his arrival to detect threats, and he would have been accompanied by armed security who may have used an alternate hotel entrance, said Scott Stewart, a vice president of TorchStone Global.

""I've never seen an executive with a comprehensive security program ever be victimized like that," said Stewart, who had nearly four decades in the industry."

Several security veterans said that before this week's shocking events, it was common for executives to decline security due to the disruption it caused to their lives or the image it may have given.

The security chief of a technology firm stated that not all CEOs require heavy-duty protection. He explained that senior executives face threats constantly and that it is essential to have a platform to examine them and determine their credibility and timeliness.

'Guns, guards and gates'

After Thompson's murder, many companies have sought additional security measures for their executives, according to Matthew Dumpert, managing director at Kroll Enterprise Security Risk Management, as reported by CNBC.

In the upcoming weeks, several financial conferences are taking place in New York, with CEOs set to attend in person. The primary concern for these events has been disruptions caused by environmental activists or protestors, as stated by a manager at a large bank.

An executive at a major Wall Street firm stated that everyone is considering security measures for their senior staff, but requested anonymity to avoid attracting attention.

Some corporate security leaders feel undervalued and overlooked, as they are often viewed as a cost center rather than a valuable asset to the organization.

The person stated that security is a source of discomfort for people and not a top priority, while requesting anonymity to speak openly.

"I hope this will make them realize the significance of risk assessment and intelligence gathering in security, which involves more than just weapons, guards, and barriers."

This report was contributed to by Jordan Novet, Bertha Coombs, and Dan Mangan of CNBC.