Executive Protection; a Misunderstood Profession?

Priavo is a risk management company offering a diverse range of services; from bodyguards and surveillance to crisis planning and incident management. We are an experienced, global team who recognise that security must be reactive, adaptive and flexible to our clients. Executive Protection Operatives often are seen as a ‘physical barrier’, but there’s a lot more to the job, and a lot that people misunderstand about the profession.

1. BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER.

When working crowd control at events, having a large physical presence comes in handy. But often, Close Protection Operatives aim to blend in with the principal’s entourage, ensuring a more covert option for the client. Teams that regularly work across both private and public sectors will understand how to ‘blend in’ and maintain a low profile. Regardless of size or gender, a good Executive Protection Operative will identify and mitigate potential risks that could cause an unwanted security situation. Choose your security team based on their skill, discretion and ability to execute rapid and confidential security deployments.

2. CONFRONTATION IS SECONDARY.

Depending on the environment—bodyguards may or may not carry arms. Operatives are trained to cover and evacuate and the goal is no use of force. Executive Protection is about strength and guile; operatives must think on their feet, making dynamic decisions to prevent situations from happening. The physical skill set necessary for Executive Protection can be taught over time but the dedication, adaptability and integrity necessary to do the job well is often harder to find. Security Operatives should possess a high degree of situational awareness with experience in correctly assessing threats and employing the appropriate countermeasures.

3. EFFICIENCY IS KEY.

Operatives scope out destinations in advance for threats and location information. Full principal profiling, risk assessments, reconnaissance and operational planning can take place many weeks before deployment. Security teams know exactly how to enter and exit locations with minimum disruption or the quickest and safest routes for travelling to and from locations with contingency plans fully mapped out. Field operatives are usually fully supported by a back-office operation experienced in logistical planning, account and travel management. Often this leads to far greater efficiency and productivity for clients, travel plans and events.

For more information on executive protection services here.