Categories: Executive Protection and Security Advisory

In connection with the proposed acquisition of a gas turbine manufacturing company, we were asked to assess the physical security of the campuses, buildings and information technology system servers of manufacturing plants in France and Germany.   The project consisted of interviews and process walkthroughs with key executives, a physical review of the grounds, building exteriors and interior spaces and the server rooms at the two facilities. The culmination of the reviews included a detailed listing of security vulnerabilities that were noted and a budget estimate of the costs needed to bring the acquisition target's two facilities into alignment with the security standards of the client organization.

Subsequent to their acquisition of a European subsidiary, a global operator of a chain of entertainment venues took steps to eliminate the Italian subsidiary of the target and consolidate it under the Spain-based operation. The company’s European CFO was subsequently physically threatened by two individuals outside his Italy residence that if the company continued with its plans to close down the Italy operation, he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. The investigation revealed that prior to the purchase, a local crime boss and member of the Camorra crime family had a great deal of influence over what movies were shown in the company’s Italy-based theaters, which vendors the company used to services and regularly could be found inside the company’s offices where he apparently conducted business from a private office. The culmination of this project were several different potential strategies to distance themselves from the crime boss and sever the relationship without any further threats of violence.

The CEO of a U.S. publicly traded professional services firm had a planned trip to an Asia-based subsidiary. Shortly before the trip, the Asian subsidiary received an anonymous threat of violence from what was believed to either be a former employee or an aggrieved spouse of an employee. The CEO was determined not to cancel but agreed to a personal security detail. The CEO and the other executives with whom he was travelling were met at the airport, escorted by specially trained executive protection operators and drivers and accompanied at all public events while in country. At the request of the CEO, the protective team maintained a low profile while attending meetings, dinners and several receptions but still ensuring that the CEO and his team were secure.

As part of its business continuity planning, a major consulting firm physically relocated it data center to a more secure location. One day prior to the event, leadership became concerned that their most sensitive non-public and client data would be less secure while it was in transit and requested a security detail. A vehicular security detail was arranged involving several vehicles, each manned with 2 security operatives. Prior to the day of the move, an advance was performed so that the security detail could understand the planned route and make whatever changes to the planned route to avoid any particularly problematic choke points that would make the motorcade vulnerable during the trip. The relocation of the data center went as planned with no security incidents.

A client was experiencing a high incidence of inventory theft at a warehouse location in Juarez, Mexico – one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The acceptance of the client matter was contingent on including operational security in the investigative budget. The security detail determined that the investigative team should use as its base of operations, a U.S. city that bordered Juarez rather than overnight in Mexico. Each day, the investigative team was escorted to a bridge leading to Mexico where they were handed off to a second team in a non-descript vehicle who were responsible for the protectees while on the ground in Juarez. At the end of the workday, the team returned to the bridge where the U.S. based security detail escorted the team to their hotel where they provide overnight security.