Rising threats and political evacuations shaped 2025 crisis management landscape – Willis

Incidents involving threats to individuals or client assets increased by more than a third in 2025.

That is according to Willis, which said such incidents accounted for 37% of all things reported to Alert:24 – the in-house risk advisory and crisis support service provided by Willis.

The second most common peril was political repatriation, which made up for a fifth (19%) of all 2025 incidents.

The data was highlighted in Willis’ latest Crisis Management Annual Review,  which said that 2025 was a year that continued to reshape the global risk environment.

Geopolitical volatility, economic pressure, shifting alliances and the rise of youth‑led activism created sustained uncertainty for organisations operating internationally, Willis said.

Jo Holliday, global head of crisis management, added: “We heard from many clients that 2025 was a challenging year.

“Across every region, our Crisis Management and Alert:24 teams helped clients navigate a complex threat landscape through diverse incidents.

”We are deeply grateful for the trust they place in us. Through this experience and our Crisis Management Review, our aim is to provide leaders with clear, data-driven insights to help them interpret these dynamics and take informed next steps.”

2026 view

The overall volume of incidents remained broadly consistent with recent years, while the nature of the risks evolved.

Rising threat alerts in regions of escalating geopolitical risk drove increased demand for intelligence and support, while ongoing instability in high-risk markets continued to test organisational preparedness.

”Looking ahead to 2026, businesses face an operating environment marked by persistent unpredictability,” Willis said.

“The interplay between political dynamics, economic pressures and rapidly shifting security conditions will continue to test organisational resilience.”