Protection for Executives: It's Not an Option...Just Good Business
Executive protection is a growing and necessary field as businesses need to protect the assets of their company...the executive. It's not just about international companies but also about threats present on U.S. soil.
New York, NY (PRWEB) January 25, 2006 -- When the words executive protection come to mind the obvious risks conjured up are the kidnapping and ransom (K&R) of executives from remote locations around the globe. The fact is executive protection is a growing field because the risks executives pose by merely being employed by a company targeted for any number of reasons, is growing. There isn’t reason for alarm but there is a reason to be prepared.
It is important to remember there are threats to a company’s interests coming from all parts of the globe including right here on U.S. soil. There can be groups from outside the company or share holders who show up at a meeting to disagree with a company’s policy or business focus which my pose a safety risk. In other words a company doesn’t have to be engaged in international activities to bring attention to itself or its employees, but is doing so by simply being in business. “Share holder meetings are open to the public with the potential for anyone who either owns a few shares or has lost money to come and present a possible security risk if they have an axe to grind,” explains William McGuire, president and CEO of New York-based Global Security Associates, LLC.
A priority for any company therefore is to evaluate potential risks by engaging the services of a company trained and knowledgeable in the assessment of risks and unwanted attention. Reviewing where their security risks are in relation to company interests, business dealings and travel is an essential first step. In the assessment phase a critical review of staff safety and security procedures will be reviewed as will the activities and business dealings the company engages in. This is an important step in identifying where the risks are and the best response to take to reduce or eliminate those risks. Another growing area of monitoring for threats is in cyber surveillance. This is performed in addition to other methods of intelligence and research gathering. “A client in the medical field was targeted by an animal rights group which posted the CEO’s address and personal information about the family including where the children went to school,” adds McGuire.
Once an assessment has been conducted the planning phase would go into place surrounding such activities as travel alerts for upcoming travel, securing the facility or building the company conducts business out of and coordinating the security measures for upcoming meetings and or functions. Through planning, training and rehearsal of security techniques to keep people safe an increased level of security will be accomplished. A company will sometimes delay or put off assessing their risks and this should not happen, as it is vital to make the time to plan for potential danger.
The techniques used for carrying out executive protection will often include the deployment of specially trained protection specialists who possess years of experience as former members of the military and or law enforcement to assess every situation the executive may be part of. This includes the review of data and intelligence to develop an operating procedure and response. Part of the overall framework of executive protection includes transportation security measures. A well planned overall strategy for executives traveling would be to also include vehicle and aircraft safety protocols.
Let there be no doubt that executive protection can be a very risky business so it imperative that the employment of your protection specialist be trained to react to any situation to keep your valued people safe, while keeping your business running.
About Global Security Associates:
Global Security Associates, LLC, (GSA) is among the world’s leading security firms providing protection for small and large events and/or personal protection to the entertainment, diplomatic, and corporate worlds using U.S. government training protocol. GSA has also been a major security supplier to many government agencies, Fortune 500 companies and international clients at locations in Europe, the Caribbean, North & Central Africa, South Africa, South America, Mexico, Asia and the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
William McGuire, president and CEO of the company, has spent nearly two decades in the commercial aviation security industry and prior to forming Global Security Associates was assistant vice president of Virgin Security Associates in North America, a division of Virgin Atlantic Airways, where he was responsible for the implementation of the International Passenger Profiling Program.
Contact:
Karen Johnson
Johnson Media Services
291 Little Plains Road
Huntington, NY 11743
Telephone: 631-757-4950
###
|
