The escalation of threats against senior corporate leaders has reached unprecedented levels in 2025, according to an analysis of executive targeting.
The "Executive Targeting Report: Analysis of Attacks on Corporate Executives from 2003-2025" documents 424 targeted incidents globally from 2003 to October 31, 2025. This study uses open sources from verified media and public records and reveals that the incident volume in 2025 has already doubled that of 2024, marking a 100% increase year-over-year.
Protest-Related Actions Dominate
Physical threats dominate the reported incidents, accounting for 85% and including assaults, kidnappings, stalking, and protest-related actions.
Cyber threats such as death threats, impersonation, swatting, and account compromise represent 14% of cases. Notably, hybrid incidents are increasingly common at the junction of online and physical threat manifestations. A significant concern is that one-third of these incidents result in death or physical injury.
Research Collaboration Provides Insights
A significant concern is that one-third of these incidents result in death or physical injury
This comprehensive dataset was developed by a pioneer in Fortune 500 corporate security and expanded through collaboration with the Security Executive Council (SEC) and Mercyhurst University's Business Intelligence & Innovation (BI²) Lab. Analytical support was provided by the Center for Intelligence Research, Analysis, and Training (CIRAT).
Key Observations
- CEOs are most frequently targeted, comprising 64% of the cases, yet attacks on other senior executives are on the rise.
- Executives within the technology and financial services sectors constitute over one-third of the incidents.
- Despite males being the primary targets, female executive targeting reached unprecedented levels in 2025.
- Weapons were involved or suspected in 37% of cases, with firearms present in 22%.
- Personally motivated attacks, though less common, tend to be more perilous, with armed assailants involved in 70% of these cases.
Rising Threat Landscape
The study points out a growing trend of workplace and residential targeting since 2020, along with an increasing convergence of digital threats and physical attacks.
Bob Hayes, SEC Managing Director, emphasized that "Threat actors are no longer focusing on a single executive profile—targeting has broadened across leadership tiers." With the pressing nature of these findings, the SEC has made this information public to heighten awareness and enhance preparedness.
