The 2003 film Runaway Jury made a significant plot shift from the popular John Grisham novel. On the one hand, it may have been due to Grisham's plot involving a court case against the tobacco industry having been brought to the big screen already. But the film producers probably also recognized that there's something more tense and hard-hitting about the direction the film took.

The opening scenes feature office staff going about their usual morning routines in a New Orleans office building. Jacob Wood, the apparent boss, is talking in his office with a coworker, as we get brief glimpses of Wood's wife, Celestine, and his son, Henry. As Woods has every intention of seeing them that evening, screams suddenly erupt from the hallway. Wood observes multiple members of his staff attempting to flee from an active shooter. Recognizing the situation, he tries to do what he can to lock things down. As the scene closes, Wood and his coworker appear to be the last of the gunman’s victims.

Just over twenty years later, we’re seeing a rise in real-life attacks on high-profile figures and business executives. According to Reuters, “U.S. companies are spending record amounts to keep their executives safe in response to rising threats and the killings of two high-profile corporate officials in separate attacks…” The attacks they reference are the killing of four people at the NFL Headquarters building and the killing of a United Healthcare CEO, two separate recent events in Manhattan.

On July 28, 2025, a mentally ill man traveled from Las Vegas to New York with the apparent intent of targeting employees at NFL headquarters. Despite his intention, he ended up on the wrong floor, ultimately killing four victims. The property owner, Rudin Management, had taken precautions like implementing active shooter training. They had even installed a safe bathroom that could be locked down, including a ballistic door.

In the early morning hours of December 4, 2024, a suspect targeted and repeatedly shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he was walking into a building for their annual Investor Conference. Thompson died from his wounds, and the shooter became the subject of a manhunt and a substantial amount of media coverage.

There has been a rash of recent attacks aside from the two we already mentioned.

• The May 2025 killing of two Israeli Embassy employees.
• The June 2025 assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman.
• The July 2024 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.

If you’re a high-profile individual, you can do something to protect yourself under that suit. There are options available when it comes to body armor for business attire. Consider the following reasons to armor up in your position:

• Protection against possible threats of workplace violence: This could come from mentally ill persons, disgruntled employees, or people with grievances against your company.
• Security during risky business dealings: Executives and CEOs often engage in high-stakes business transactions, negotiations, or meetings with individuals or organizations that may pose security risks.
• Company reputation and image: The safety of top executives can have an impact on the overall reputation and image of your organization. Investing in ballistic or bulletproof protection can be a way for your company to demonstrate commitment to the safety of its leadership team.
• Personal peace of mind: Executives may simply want a concealable plate carrier as a precautionary measure to give them a sense of security, wishing to see loved ones at the end of a day’s work.

Social media and artificial intelligence have made it easier to find and dox public figures. You don’t necessarily have to do anything on your end because social media users can rapidly amplify negative opinions. A damaged reputation can happen overnight as rumors and smears spread online like wildfire.

If you’re in one of these CEO-type positions, what can you do to take precautions?

As a leader in the workplace, you know you could be a target. You know body armor is accessible, but you don’t want to raise alarms among your staff. You also can’t be fidgeting and constantly adjusting a bulky carrier in the middle of a board meeting.

You need something hidden, comfortable, and dependable. You need undetectable executive protection body armor.

Enter the Spartan Executive Protection Shirt.

We’ve specifically designed the Executive Protection Shirt to conform to your body. It fits snugly against the skin, much like a sports compression shirt. This concealed armor shirt is something you can wear all day long and forget it’s there.

1. Little to no “printing” means you can wear it anywhere undetected.
2. Breathable, lightweight fabric makes it the most comfortable body armor carrier on the market.
3. Spartan Armor Flex Fused Core® IIIA soft armor panels provide level IIIA ballistic protection against handgun threats up to .44 Magnum SJHP and .357 SIG FMJ and keep you protected on all four sides.
4. Aggressive hook and loop pockets keep panels securely in place.

The Executive Protection Shirt is a discreet alternative to wraparound vests and is far less restrictive in movement. For more information and a complete breakdown of all the features, check out our product page here.

Threats of violence against CEOs and company executives have been increasing since 2020. While we hope to stem that tide, we have to plan for the continued trend into the future. Just because you wear a suit for a living, doesn’t mean you have to take your chances.

One way you can protect yourself today is with a quality, concealable body armor shirt. Designed to be hidden and meant to be worn anywhere, it's your best option for protection under a shirt and tie, suit jacket, or whatever your business attire happens to be. 

For those who want discreet protection, trust the Executive Protection shirt.

Concealed, Comfortable, Protected. Spartan Armor.

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