Why Would I Need Executive Risk Protection Services?
Seeing celebrities, the President and the Pope escorted by security brigades is a common sight, but would you imagine that prosperous entrepreneurs, business leaders, lawyers involved in high profile court cases, controversial blog columnists, lottery winners, and anyone who has accumulated or handles large amounts of money and valuables are also probable targets for acts of violence? Whether you are traveling overseas for a business meeting, being escorted to testify in court, launching your new product at an event or taking your children to school, your life and the lives of those around you could be at risk.
Everyone has heard of the name Steve Jobs and Apple Computer, which Jobs formed with two other visionaries and sold out of his parent’s garage back in 1976. In 2010 Forbes estimated his net wealth at $8.3 billion, making him the 42nd-wealthiest American. Imagine this scenario; you had a vision and invented a product, and with your entrepreneurial skills you created a business that thrived into a multi-million dollar venture. Now your picture, biographical information and net worth show up as the first hit on the Google search engine. You can’t go out in town without receiving constant attention from crowds of people trying to get your autograph, snap a picture or worse, assault you. Although you may be enjoying your newfound wealth and success, life isn’t as simple as it once was; in fact, accomplishing everyday tasks makes you vulnerable to potential threats against your safety and well-being.
High net worth individuals, political figures, dignitaries, top military leaders, media personas and celebrities, all draw thousands of fans and adversaries from around the world. Even if you think you keep a low profile, there are undesirables who know who you are and where you are. Just because your personal safety hasn’t be threatened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Most people question whether or not they need Executive Protection (EP) services; unassuming of the attention they have drawn to themselves by means of rank, status, employment or wealth. Without knowing the threats that exist against you, your family and your company, and without proper security measures in place to protect those entities, one incident or mishap resulting in a loss of life, will answer that question. Regrettably, by then it’s too late.
What is the Difference Between ATAC Executive Risk Protection Services and Hiring a Bodyguard?
If you think of bodyguards as the brawn, then think of Executive Risk Protection Services are the brawn and the brains. ATAC Executive Protection teams are made up of elite professionals not only trained to provide personal protection escort services, but who are also trained to strategize and analyze potential security risks in unstable environments in order to deter and reduce threats against high value targets. Highly trained EP teams can conduct threat and vulnerability assessments, personal background checks and screenings, provide personal security, event security, private yacht security, home security, close protection support, perform surveillance and technical surveillance countermeasures, engage in defensive driving, provide armored vehicle transport and even administer first aid. These teams assimilate into any environment they operate in; they liaise with local authorities, operate discretely and are prepared to anticipate, respond and thwart any perceived threat against their clients. With EP services, at-risk individuals can travel in comfort and ease, securely and safely especially in unfamiliar places and high-threat locations.
ATAC’s Executive Risk Protection services not only protect the life of the high profile figure, but they also provide security for their immediate and/or extended family members to prevent them from being the target of criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom and extortion. There are numerous ways attackers can get to an executive; through family members is a common one. Although you may think kidnapping and extortion typically involves pirate attacks on merchant vessels or terrorists acting out political agendas, incidents like these hit closer to home more often than not and happen to everyday business men and woman just like you; they just don’t make the evening headline news mostly for privacy reasons.
Should I Invest In Executive Risk Protection Services?
- Have you ever had to layoff personnel and feared whether or not a disgruntled employee would retaliate?
- Could others perceive you as a high value target while traveling within and outside the continental U.S.?
- Have you been the target of negative media coverage?
- Have you even been listed in a magazine or newspaper?
- Does your family have photos available on the internet?
- Is your income growing exponentially and with it your concerns of safety and security?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, the answer to whether or not you should invest in Executive Risk Protection Services should also be yes. Unfortunately, many companies think of Executive Risk Protection like health insurance; when we get sick we realize we need insurance, likewise, when security is breached we realize we need protection. Think of Executive Risk Protection services as a preventative measure to ensure the safety and security of your assets and investments. After all, top executives are some company’s most valuable assets.
To emphasize the seriousness of Executive Risk Protection services taken by some companies, executive compensation reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission revealed how much money companies are spending to protect their top executives. Oracle was at the top of the list, which spent $1.8 million protecting Chief Executive Larry Ellison last yea; a 40% increase from the year before. Ellison also spent his own money installing top-of-the-line security systems on his two estates in California.
All over the world to include the U.S., China, Russia and South Africa, VIP protection is increasingly growing. Wealthy business executives face the risk that their families will be harassed, their children will be kidnapped, their private property stolen and their homes broken into. Disgruntled employees, greed, large rifts between social classes and even competitors who are seeking an illegal advantage, are all factors for increasing
“I’m conscious of it, I’ve learnt to live with it,” said Lady Thatcher of her ever-present security arrangements. “After the Brighton bomb, one was desperately worried. The way you think about life is that it’s not going to happen to me, and then it happened. I accept their advice and you have to, because they have a job to do. They’re in danger as well. Politics in a free society couldn’t carry on without them – that is the importance of the work they do.” Source: Times – Lydia Slater
Although some executives would rather not be bothered by 24-hour gate guards or have a personal escort and convoy just to go the grocery store, in the end, living your life with a perceived inconvenience is better than not living your life at all. Investing in Executive Risk Protections services ensures the safety and security of you, your family, your assets and investments so that you can enjoy the life you have worked hard to build without worrying whether or not it will be compromised.