Protecting the C-Suite | Jason Bolwell

Executive Protection can no longer be treated as a purely physical discipline. In this episode, Phelim and Shaun are joined by Jason Bolwell, Global Executive Protection Manager at BP, to explore how AI is reshaping the threat landscape for senior leaders.The conversation makes one thing clear: digital exposure now routinely creates physical risk. AI has lowered the barrier to entry for threat actors, enabling individuals, activists, and criminal groups to scrape personal data, track executive movements, and amplify narratives at speed. Jason argues that modern EP must fuse digital privacy, cyber security, and physical protection into a single, joined-up protective model, supported by better intelligence discipline, cultural awareness, and defensible decision-making.Key discussion pointsAI has democratized threat capability — everyday actors now access tools once limited to specialistsDigital exposure → physical risk — online data increasingly drives real-world disruptionActivist tactics are evolving — focus shifting from companies to named executivesDeepfakes raise the stakes — voice and video manipulation threaten reputation and marketsOSINT is getting harder — closed channels, platform restrictions, and legal caution reduce visibilityOptics and legality matter more than ever — not every threat is kinetic, but all are reputationalA data-led EP future — Jason outlines a 2026 event-scoring tool to standardize risk, resourcing, and accountabilityThe episode challenges protectors to move from reactive responses to proactive, intelligence-led protection, anticipating threats across all domains, not just the physical one.About Jason:LinkedInMore about the Circuit:The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >Newsletter:If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >The Circuit team is:Jon MossShaun WestPhelim RoweElijah ShawConnect with Us:Circuit MagazineBBA ConnectNABA ProtectorBritish Bodyguard Association