WSJ told how top managers are protected from traps with mistresses

CEOs of large companies enlist detectives, security consultants and elite matchmakers to protect themselves from blackmail, leaks and attempts at industrial espionage through romantic relationships. For first dates, they are selected inconspicuous places, hide their identities and even hire extras. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Protecting the personal lives of top managers has become a separate business. Linx Dating founder Amy Andersen selects partners for the technology industry. Candidates are screened and signed non-disclosure agreements. Andersen calls it the creation of a “controlled dating environment” in which she acts as a kind of customer bodyguard. The cost of services starts from $75,000 and reaches $500,000.

Matchmakers try to hide not only the names of customers, but also their condition. For example, Rachel Greenwald of Greenwald Executive Matchmaking suggested that one Maserati owner rent a Toyota Prius to come on a first date in an inconspicuous car.

At the same time, managers themselves do not always follow the requirements that they impose on potential partners. According to Alex Wolfe, founder of OnlyFnds, a financial services company that provides OnlyFans models, some customers say they do not want to meet bloggers, especially if they have more than 10,000 subscribers. “In fact, they continue to choose exactly the type of women they want to stay away from,” Wolfe said.

Sometimes you have to resort to unusual solutions to organize meetings. Stuart McNeil of the Knightsbridge Circle concierge service once arranged a date for two famous people in a separate box at the stadium during a concert. So that the couple did not notice on the balcony, he hired an extra who filled the room and gave the impression that a group of friends gathered there.

For meetings, small cafes are also chosen on weekdays instead of expensive restaurants on weekends. Investor Elena Nunes, for example, asked a security consultant to rent a home through Airbnb to accept potential partners without disclosing a home address.

Specialists check the candidates themselves. Security consultant Don Aviv charges an additional $4,000 to study the potential partner’s social media and legal history. He said executives are also wary of stealing intimate photos and deepfakes. In some cases, they check whether candidates are connected with political or public topics that may damage the client’s reputation.

He calls one of the most dangerous scenarios of “honey traps” when a person is deliberately involved in a romantic relationship for money or corporate information. According to the consultant, this threat affects both sexes.

Personal relationships can also threaten the career of managers. In 2023, BP chief executive Bernard Looney resigned after admitting he had not been completely outspoken about previous relationships with colleagues. Last year, Nestlé fired CEO Laurent Frakes after investigating his relationship with a direct subordinate. Frakes himself disputed the grounds and procedure for dismissal.

Risks of romantic relationships are heavily debated within tech companies. For example, OpenAI conducted training sessions for employees dedicated to spies who try to access corporate data, including using “honey traps”. The story of former Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, whose connection to a woman suspected of working for Chinese intelligence became known this week, quickly turned into a cautionary tale for the tech industry.

After reports of an extramarital relationship, Huang resigned on November 12 as president, CEO and board member of Nvidia. One of the women is Alice Huang, who is affiliated with Megaspeed, which buys Nvidia chips. US intelligence agencies suspect her of cooperating with Chinese intelligence. Beijing denies the accusations. Huang agreed to provide Congress with information about his relationship with her and the company's security protocols.

Lawyers advise executives to notify boards of new relationships in advance, especially when it comes to romances with colleagues. Some also enter into cohabitation agreements early in the relationship. Attorney Bob Cohen, who represented Melinda French Gates and Georgina Chapman, prepares about 25 such documents a year. They allow to determine in advance the rights of partners to common housing.

According to research by University of Denver management professor Michael Nalik, executives are nearly five times more likely to be fired for personal misconduct than for financial misconduct.

Against the background of such risks, some top managers prefer to completely abandon dating. According to Andersen, among the founders of AI companies there are many people who almost never leave the office and remain lonely.