Security Executive Council merges operations of Business Security Advisory Group

June 9, 2009
BSAG consulting group becomes part of SEC operations, adds custom service offerings

The consulting organization Business Security Advisory Group (BSAG) is merging with the Security Executive Council (SEC), both organizations announced this morning. The merger brings aboard a group of former CSOs from many top global companies and allows the Security Executive Council to provide custom services to its members and companies interested in the SEC's services.

The Security Executive Council has made its name in the industry as a membership organization providing security management tools and research on issues like security compliance standards, deparment metrics, and new risk areas. Now with the addition of the BSAG, the council is now establishing Security Executive Council Custom Group headed by Don Hubbard which can provide custom services to non-members. According to Bob Hayes, managing director of the SEC, that could mean providing services to smaller firms that may not have been members. Hayes added that the council had already provided custom services for some members, but the addition of BSAG ramps up the organization's ability to provide custom services.

"The SEC is changing to meet all the security executives' requirements and it kind of opens up a whole new door of people who wanted an ongoing relationship with the council," explained Hayes. "What makes it different [from traditional consulting organizations] is that everything hinges around the research and products we are doing. Traditional consultants develop skill sets in a certain area and then go look for customers who need those skills in that area. We conduct research and develop tools, and what we find is that our solutions are driving a market to us. We’re still focused on leadership, security compliance risks, CSOs' needs. It just makes us more flexible."

Bringing aboard BSAG to the council means the addition of many top names in security leadership. According to the SEC, the BSAG principals included the following: Dick Lefler (former VP of Worldwide Security, American Express); George Campbell (former CSO, Fidelity Investments); John McCarthy (former Global Director of Corporate Security, Texaco, Inc.); John Thompson (partner, Oberman Thompson & Segal, LLC); and Randy Uzzell (former Director of Global Security, Burlington Industries). Its executive consultants are Randy Arnt (former Executive Director of Global Security, Kimberly-Clark Corporation); Milt Brown (former Chief of Corporate Security, CVS/Caremark Rx); Joe Carlon (former head of security, Exxon Mobil Corporation); Ed Casey (former CSO, Procter & Gamble); Wayne Gilbert (former VP of Worldwide Security, Johnson & Johnson); George Miserendino (former head of security, Excel Energy); J. David Quilter (former head of security, NiSource), and Robert Sypult (former Director of Corporate Security & Emergency Preparedness, Southern California Edison Company).

According to Hayes, the vast majority of these individuals were already involved to some extent, whether as SEC faculty, members or as researchers for the council.

The merger of BSAG into the Security Executive Council is already complete. For more information, visit the SEC's website www.securityexecutivecouncil.com.