One in four executives executives 'exposed' to risk of assault or robbery

The report found that 28% of executives have put special arrangements in place for their personal or travel security

One in four Irish executives believe they are highly exposed to risk of physical assault or robbery, while a further one in six report high exposure to kidnap-for-ransom risks, a report warns. Picture: PA/Paul Faith

One in four Irish executives believe they are highly exposed to risk of physical assault or robbery, while a further one in six report high exposure to kidnap-for-ransom risks, a report warns.

The findings of the Gallagher Executive Protection Report found that 24% of executives reported high exposure to physical assault or robbery risks, with 26% believing they are highly exposed to travel-related security risks. Some 16% reported high exposure to kidnap-for-ransom risks.

The report found that 28% of respondents have put special arrangements in place for their personal or travel security, while 15% have kidnap and ransom or executive protection cover.

The report was based on a survey — conducted by Censuswide — of 1,000 senior decision-makers across Ireland and Britain.

It found that 71% of Irish executives have fears about deepfake and AI-enabled deception being used in attacks against their organisation, making it the single biggest concern for directors and senior leadership teams. This was followed by fears of phishing and social engineering attacks (41%), and reputation manipulation or fake news (41%).

“What’s striking is how quickly AI-enabled deception has moved to the top of the risk agenda for senior leaders. These are not theoretical threats, they are already impacting organisations, with a significant proportion of senior leaders reporting direct exposure to deepfake and impersonation attacks,” said Gallagher head of financial lines Michael Cunningham.

One in three executives reported high exposure to digital impersonation attacks, which typically involve fraudsters impersonating executives using fake emails, cloned voices, or AI video to pressure employees into transferring funds or sharing sensitive information.

Mr Cunningham said many organisations have taken steps around fraud controls and awareness training but the findings suggest there is still a gap when it comes to more advanced or targeted protections.

“That means not only strengthening internal controls but considering how visible senior leaders are and what information is publicly accessible,” he added.

"Ultimately, the threat landscape is evolving quickly, and organisations need to ensure their approach to risk management evolves with it.”