Garda Reorganizing Management

June 7, 2007
After recent spate of acquisitions, Garda gets busy integrating its divisions

Garda World Security Corporation, one of the world's largest manned security, consulting and security investigation firms, is shuffling corporate management to make better business sense.

Garda President and CEO Stephan Cretier described the company's 12-year history as one focused on "consolidation of the global security industry."

Indeed, that has been the case. The company's acquisitions list reads like a former's who's who of the security and cash handling world: ATI Systems, GSS Global, Kroll Security International, Secpro, PSI Armored, and of course Vance International -- and those are just some of the ones within the last 1-1/2 years.

"We are now the fifth largest integrated physical security and cash logistics firm worldwide on a revenue basis and one of the leading global risk-consulting and security firms," said Cretier. "This reorganization will further strengthen our competitive position as well as our ability to create shareholder value as we continue our growth."

To help integrate the business, the company is moving Senior V.P. and CFO Alain Dumont in to lead the company's new Transaction Development Group as the senior vice president. According to Garda, Dumont will be helping integrate the recent acquisition of cash handling firm ATI Systems International. Dumont will be based in Los Angeles and will continue to work on the company's M&As. Taking over for Dumont's former position as CFO is Francois Rodrigue, who joins from L-3.

Garda's senior vice president and COO Patrice Boily has been named as senior vice president of operations and reengineering, and will oversee both the Canadian cash logistics group, as well as integrating the company into their new 40,000-s.f. facility. Boily will also be working on the ATI Systems (aka AT Systems) integration in the Midwest United States.

Jean Talbot has been named senior vice president of enterprise intelligence services, a new unit within Garda that provides a role on risk management and security (as well as pre-employment screening) for Garda clients. Talbout was formerly the special advisor to the CEO.

Coming in as the new special advisor to the CEO is Marc-Andre Aube, who "will work closely with Allan Bentley, Senior Vice President, Ontario and Western Canada, and Luc Dupont, Vice President Business Development in Quebec in the realignment of the entire physical security operation in Canada to profitably expand the business."

Garda's Louis Laframboise, VP of consulting and investigation for Canada is adding new responsibilities; his group is now part of GardaWorld, their global consulting and risk solutions division. It will unify efforts with former Kroll subsidiaries KSI and KGSI, as well as Vance, GSS Group and CLI.

LeMarque Sheppard will serve as president of the new GardaWorld entity, in addition to continuing to head his U.S. physical security role.

Also announced was that Guy Cote has been named as vice president and Chief Security Officer, to replace retiring predecessor Robert St-Jean.