CASE STUDY: Executive Protection

OVERVIEW

LOCATION: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

SERVICES:

• Executive Protection
• Secure Transportation 

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, gathers world leaders, industry titans, and innovators to shape the future of global economic and investment progress. However, the event also faces significant security challenges, including those driven by geopolitical tensions both globally and regionally. With war ongoing in the Middle East during the 2024 conference, heightened security measures were essential to protect attendees.

The prominence of the FII conference and its high-profile attendees makes it a potential target for groups seeking to amplify their platforms or agendas, whether through protests, physical attacks, or other disruptive actions.

Amid these challenges, multiple clients turned to Global Guardian to ensure the safety and security of their executives traveling to Riyadh for the event, while also keeping their schedules on track. Instead of relying on unvetted car services or inconsistent rideshares, clients sought streamlined logistical support through a single point of contact, easing the burden on their internal travel teams.

MISSION AND RESPONSE

Global Guardian’s Operations Division began planning for the FII event months in advance—well before receiving any client requests. This preparation included working with our on-the-ground teams to secure transportation assets, identify skilled close protection agents, and develop intelligence briefs outlining potential threats surrounding the event.

The team took a twofold approach, proactively reaching out to all clients who had previously attended the event while also responding swiftly to incoming service requests for secure transportation and executive protection.

Multiple teams within the Operations Division collaborated seamlessly leading up to and during the event to deliver white glove service:

• Planning: As client requests came in, project managers (PMs) conducted discovery calls and coordinated each mission based on the client’s specific requests, sharing mission briefs with details on the drivers and agents. Our PMs also guided clients through FII’s rigorous security registration process.
• Execution: A week prior to the event, members of our Special Operations Division (SOD) conducted an advance, inspecting all vehicles and meeting with the local agents who have extensive knowledge of the event, terrain, and the potential threats. The SOD team oversaw daily operations on the ground, ensuring schedules remained on track while adapting to last-minute changes.
• Oversight: Throughout the event, agents in Global Guardian’s 24/7 Operations Center maintained oversight of the entire operation, tracking client movements in real time and monitoring for potential security threats to ensure client safety.

As situations arose on the ground throughout the event, all teams involved worked in unison to meet the client's needs, consistently exceeding the expectations of a typical executive protection service.

WHY Global Guardian

Global Guardian's success in managing both planned security operations and unexpected emergencies highlights their unparalleled expertise and comprehensive service offerings. From meticulous preplanning to swift crisis management, Global Guardian ensures safety and security at every step, demonstrating a proven track record of excellence and reliability.

Clients utilizing Global Guardian’s services benefit from:  

• Outcome-Oriented Team: From travel emergencies to the most challenging crisis environments, client safety and security is our top priority. Our team will problem-solve until a positive outcome is achieved.
• Operational Excellence: With a team comprised of highly experienced former military, special operations, and federal law enforcement personnel, our operational execution is unmatched.
• Hyper-Responsive Support: With 24/7/365 Global Security Operations Centers and local response teams in over 140 countries, Global Guardian moves in minutes and hours instead of days and weeks.
• Breadth of Global Services: We offer a full range of customizable global security and medical services over 98% of the world, including travel risk management, executive protection, medical assistance and evacuation, cyber security, and video surveillance.