Protecting High-Profile Company and Board Members: Why Executive and Director Risk Management Must Evolve
Introduction: Visibility Without Protection
In today’s volatile risk environment, the most dangerous blind spots are often the ones closest to the top.
Most organisations acknowledge the importance of executive protection — securing their CEOs, CFOs and senior management from reputational, digital and even physical threats. But board members, particularly in publicly listed companies, are often even more exposed — and far less protected.
They’re highly visible, named on ASX/NASDAQ disclosures, and frequently quoted or listed in media releases. Yet unlike full-time executives, they:
Often work part-time or remotely
Use personal devices and unsecured emails
May not fall under corporate protective protocols
And critically: they represent the company, even when off-duty.
This article explores:
Why board and executive protection both matter — but must be treated differently
Real-world examples of leadership-level targeting
Unique risk domains for directors vs. executives
Structured protective strategies
How CrisisCompass tools support enterprise-level readiness
Why Leaders Are Being Targeted
Senior leaders are high-value targets for multiple threat actors — from disgruntled insiders and activist shareholders to cybercriminals and geopolitical actors.
Threats include:
Harassment and doxxing
Social engineering to gain access to systems
Executive impersonation (voice, email, video)
Targeted ransomware or extortion
Physical threats during events, travel, or at home
💡 Fact: A 2023 Ontic survey of corporate security professionals found that 78% reported increased threats to executives, and 63% cited growing concern for board member safety specifically.
Executive vs. Board Exposure: A Side-by-Side Risk Comparison
Public Visibility
Executives: High, via media, speeches, LinkedIn
Board Members: Often higher — legally disclosed as part of governance
Access to Sensitive Information
Executives: Daily access
Board Members: Episodic but often high-stakes
Security Governance
Executives: Typically covered by corporate security
Board Members: Often outside formal oversight
Communication Practices
Executives: Corporate devices and communication systems
Board Members: Often use personal email and mobile devices
Legal Relationship
Executives: Employees
Board Members: Depends on jurisdiction but typically contractors or non-executive directors
Travel and Event Risk
Executives: Regularly risk-assessed
Board Members: Infrequently planned or protected
Risk Culture Awareness
Executives: Generally higher, due to regular exposure
Board Members: Variable — often excluded from internal briefings
Case Examples: When Visibility Becomes Vulnerability
1. Australian Director Doxxed Over ESG Decision
A non-executive director of an ASX-listed company was doxxed and harassed online after a controversial ESG-related board decision. Their personal address was published in activist forums, and protestors later appeared outside their home.
2. Deepfake CEO Voice Scam in Europe
A finance director received a synthetic audio call mimicking the voice of their CEO — a well-known public figure — requesting an urgent funds transfer. The scam succeeded, costing the company $240,000 before being flagged.
3. Board Device Compromise Leads to Leak
A board member of a North American fintech firm accessed confidential board papers using an unsecured personal tablet. The device had been infected with malware. Sensitive M&A information was later leaked on dark web forums.
Three Critical Risk Domains: Expanded for Directors
While executives face operational risk, board members face visibility-driven exposure. Both must be protected — differently.
1. Physical Security
Executives typically benefit from:
Corporate office access control
Travel planning and protective intelligence
Workplace security teams
Board members often:
Work from home or co-working spaces
Attend events without advance security planning
Use public venues for meetings or strategy days
Key risks:
Residential threats (protestors, activists)
Unprotected travel (AGMs, conferences)
VIP vulnerability (during public-facing appearances)
2. Digital Risk
Executives are usually included in:
Corporate email ecosystems
Company cyber training and MFA enforcement
IT-managed mobile and endpoint protection
Board members frequently:
Use personal devices for accessing sensitive board material
Receive board packs via unsecured channels (e.g. Gmail, Dropbox)
Share insights on LinkedIn or social media — sometimes revealing travel or location data
3. Reputational and Strategic Risk
A director’s reputation is inseparable from the organisation — and vice versa.
Common scenarios:
Accusations of misconduct or bias, amplified via social media
Shareholder activism targeting individual directors
Political or ideological campaigns against directors with controversial affiliations
Unlike executives, board members may not have corporate PR support or legal protection protocols in place.
Organisational Responsibility: Who Owns Board Protection?
Too often, the assumption is: “They’re just directors, not staff.” That’s dangerous thinking. Boards:
Are legally accountable for oversight of risk
Hold access to sensitive corporate strategy
Represent the company’s values and decisions
Can cause immense disruption if threatened or compromised
Executive protection is not a perk designed to pamper senior executives or board members. Rather, it's a carefully measured and applied form of risk mitigation, designed to maintain the company's ability to operate and to preserve confidence among employees, customers and investors. Even an incident that causes no serious injury can bring negative attention to an organisation and erode confidence in its competence and preparedness.
✅ Protecting board members is a governance issue, not just a security issue.
Best Practice Strategies for Executive and Board Protection
Here’s how forward-leaning organisations are closing these gaps:
1. Conduct Role-Specific Risk Assessments
For each high-profile individual:
Map public visibility, controversial affiliations and potential triggers
Assess digital hygiene and comms behaviour
Review event and travel exposure
2. Harden Personal Digital Ecosystems
Offer assistance (not just policy advice) with:
Securing personal email, cloud storage and mobile devices
Enabling MFA on all sensitive accounts
Reviewing social media exposure and past breaches
3. Prepare for Home and Family Protection
Some directors face risk to spouses or children due to their decisions.
Suggested measures:
Private address confidentiality
Local police liaison
Home alarm and surveillance options
Emergency response plans
4. Secure Travel and Public Appearances
This is especially relevant during:
AGMs and shareholder events
Panel speaking appearances
Offsite board strategy meetings
Provide:
Pre-event threat assessments
Venue security coordination
Alternate exit and communication plans
🧳 CrisisCompass Solution: Meeting/Event Incident Response Guide
5. Integrate Board into Crisis Activation Plans
Don’t wait for an incident to realise your directors aren’t covered.
Ensure:
Board members are included in crisis communication trees
Thresholds exist for activating board-level protection
Incident response scenarios include board-specific threats
Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming directors will self-manage risk
Leaving personal security to individual discretion
Failing to formally assess board exposure
Providing no induction or security onboarding
Treating board members as outside the cyber perimeter
Final Thoughts
Executives are operationally exposed. Board members are publicly exposed. But both represent your brand, strategy, and accountability. If you’re not protecting them — physically, digitally, reputationally — you’re not protecting your business. The threats are evolving. So must your defences. Reach out today to discover how CrisisCompass can support your executive and Board in identifying, mitigating and managing risk to deliver resilience.