NEW YORK, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. pharmacy giant CVS Health removed photos of its executive leadership from its website following the shooting of Brian Thompson, the highest-ranking executive at UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest insurance providers in the United States, USA TODAY cited a company spokesperson Friday.
A copy of the company's "Meet our leadership team" page from the day of the shooting saved by the Internet Archive features a stack of photos accompanying links to the bios. As of Friday, depictions of the smiling executives, from the CEO and president to an array of vice presidents, are gone.
"The move comes as executives and their families across many sectors, including health care, have faced a spike in digital and physical threats as a result of 'increased discontent, increased cyber risks, increased vitriol'," according to Chris Pierson, CEO of security firm BlackCloak.
Pierson said it has become more difficult to protect executives because so many of their activities are made public -- from board meetings to conferences and speaking engagements.
Thompson, due to speak at UnitedHealth's annual investor conference, was gunned down outside the Hilton Midtown Manhattan early Wednesday by a masked gunman who fled the scene on foot and then by bike into Central Park.
