Groupe GEOS

GEOS is an international corporation based in France. The core activity of the Group is risk management. It delivers risk management services to individuals, companies and organisations for the protection of assets, personnel and know-how.

Chronology of the Group

Establishment of the company

GEOS was set up in 1997. The ambition of the Group’s founders, Stéphane Gérardin and Thierry Laulom, was to deliver a French security management solution for companies faced with criminal threats and political risk.

Business development

In the beginning, the main activity of the company was security escort for dignitaries and security audits in Algeria. The service package was gradually expanded; in 2000 the Group delivered a range of services in geographical zones including Africa, South-East Asia and North America. As of 2004, the Group saw turnover increase making the opening of the company’s capital to investors possible. Continental Risk, a holding company, acquired 34% of the Group’s capital. The firm is owned by Guillaume Verspieren.

2008 : Renforcement de l’actionnariat

Avec un chiffre d’affaires de 34 millions d’euros pour 2008 l’expansion du groupe a permis le renforcement de l’actionnariat, Continental Risk détenant à l’heure actuelle la majorité du capital. Guillaume Verspieren devient ainsi le nouveau président du groupe.

Le groupe en 2009

En 2009, le groupe emploie 400 personnes provenant du secteur public (défense, Intérieur, coopération, Corps diplomatique, universités, recherche…) ou du secteur privé (entreprises, cabinets juridiques et financiers, médias, ONG, grandes écoles…).

Il possède des implantations dans de nombreux pays : France, Royaume Uni, Espagne, Belgique, Pays Bas, Algérie, Emirats Arabes Unis, Nouvelle Calédonie, Afghanistan, Inde, Nigéria, Venezuela, Colombie, Brésil, Argentine.

Les services proposés par le groupe sont multiples: intelligence économique, sécurisation de développement en zones à risques, sûreté de sites, de personnes, de biens, de transports, de projets, conseil et ingénierie, formation...

Jusque dans les années 1990, seuls des cabinets anglo-saxons proposaient ce genre de solutions pour répondre aux problématiques de sûreté, notamment en matière d'intelligence économique et de gestion des risques internationaux et liés au business.

2008: Reinforcement of share capital[modifier] With turnover of 34 million euro recorded in 2008 [2] the expansion of the Group led to the reinforcement of shareholder positions, with Continental Risk currently holding the majority stake of the company. Guillaume Verspieren was named Chief Executive Officer of the Group. In addition, a new managerial structure was put into place in October 2008 with the appointment of Executive Director, Patrick Coutand.

The Group in 2009 [modifier] In 2009, the Group employs 400 staff members with backgrounds from both the public sector (Ministries of Defence, Interior, Cooperation, corps diplomatique, universities, R&D labs, etc.) and the private sector (corporate, legal firms and equity banks, media, NGOs, prestigious third level institutes, etc.) The Group owns branches and subsidiaries worldwide: France, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, New Caledonia, Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina. The Group today delivers a comprehensive service package: business intelligence, security management for hostile business environments, security of industrial sites, personnel, assets, transportation, major projects, consultancy and engineering, training, etc. Up until the 1990s, only Anglo-American firms provided this range of safety and security [3], business intelligence [4] and international and business risk management solutions.