Inside the Evolution of the Priavo Security Group: An Interview with Founders Pete and Celine

This Q&A provides an insightful look into the journey of the Priavo Security Group through the eyes of its founders, highlighting their vision, challenges, and the strategic decisions that have driven the company’s growth and success.

Q1: Let’s start from the beginning. What inspired you to launch Priavo Security in 2012?

Pete Murphy: In 2012, as global security threats grew increasingly complex, my background in Special Forces and experience in international security highlighted a critical gap in the market for specialised, high-calibre security services. I saw the need for a professional company that could deliver robust, proactive security to protect clients in high-risk environments. This vision led to the founding of Priavo Security.

Celine Shabbas Murphy: From my perspective, it was about building something that could truly make a difference to people’s lives. We wanted to create a business that was relationship-led in its approach. Our goal was to develop long-term partnerships with our clients and understand their unique needs. Providing bespoke, client-focused security has been at the core of Priavo since the beginning.

Q2: What were the early days of Priavo Security like? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

Pete Murphy: The early days were challenging. We were a small team with big ambitions. Establishing credibility in a competitive market was tough, but we turned this into an advantage by focusing on agility, adaptability, and delivery of a highly personalised service. We worked hard to build trust with our clients through a credible, and qualified global security network. We delivered on our promises and consistently provided top-tier security solutions.

Celine Shabbas Murphy: A key challenge was balancing early growth whilst maintaining the quality of security. As word of mouth spread, our client base grew quickly across the US and we scaled accordingly. This meant expanding our team but also ensuring that every new team member shared our passion for safety and our brand values: Integrity, Loyalty, Adaptability and Fortitude. We navigated growth challenges with a deliberate strategy, ensuring we never expanded beyond our ability to maintain high service standards.

Q3: Over the years, Priavo Security has evolved into the Priavo Group with multiple divisions. Can you talk about that evolution?

Pete Murphy: The Priavo Group was a natural evolution as we expanded security strategies to meet growing needs of our global clients. Priavo Maritime Security Inc. was established in 2017 to meet an urgent need amongst our private clients. As our client base expanded to corporate travellers and remote workers, we identified the need for a fully integrated journey management solution, leading to the creation of Locate Global Ltd. Now in its fifth year, Locate has grown into a global leader in Incident Management. In response to further client needs, we’ve expanded over the last three years with the launch of Priavo Commercial, Priavo Yachting, and Priavo Travel.

Celine Shabbas Murphy: The global security climate is fast evolving and challenging. Each new division was created in response to a specific demand. Priavo Core addresses the executive protection needs of businesses and individuals operating in higher-risk environments. Priavo Maritime was born out of growing expertise in the maritime sector, providing specialised services to our private yacht owners. Locate Global, was developed to leverage technology for risk management, providing real-time crisis response to global organisations. Our latest division, Priavo Commercial – led by Tom Stilwell – has extended our expertise into event security, meeting the evolving needs of the entertainment industry in the post-pandemic landscape.

Q4: Locate Global seems to be a significant part of Priavo’s recent evolution. Can you explain how it fits into the overall strategy of the Priavo Group?

Celine Shabbas Murphy: Locate Global is indeed a crucial part of our evolution. It started as a technological platform that, Riz Omar, CEO of Locate, developed to provide real-time monitoring, incident management, and mass communication. The idea came from seeing how much the world was changing. Organisations were increasingly looking at ways to keep employees safe, concerned with day-to-day safety and duty of care for a global workforce. Locate complements our traditional security services and offers clients the technology needed to monitor and respond to risks as they happen.

Pete Murphy: For me, Locate Global is about staying ahead of the curve. We recognised early on that technology would play an increasingly important role in security and risk management. Riz Omar onboarded in 2016 and Locate was launched shortly thereafter. With Locate we can offer a level of service that is both preventive and responsive, helping clients manage risks in real time. It’s a perfect example of how we’ve evolved from a security company into a comprehensive risk management group. Riz has adapted Locate’s technology to enhance the services provided by our other divisions, making it a central part of our operations and future growth strategy.

Q5: Looking back, what are some of the key milestones that you believe have shaped Priavo’s journey?

Pete Murphy: Three milestones really jump out for me. One was securing our first major contract in the celebrity sector. This gave us the credibility we needed to grow and opened the door to further opportunities in the USA. Another important landmark was establishing our international security network. These partnerships allowed us to expand our reach and serve clients globally. For me, cultural etiquette is one of the most important attributes in the protection role. The arrival of Riz Omar in 2016 and the subsequent founding of Locate Global marks a pivotal milestone. This marked our entry into the tech space and demonstrated our commitment to innovation.

Celine Shabbas Murphy: I’d highlight the branding and formation of the Priavo Group as a pivotal moment. It signals to the market we are more than a security company; we are a global risk management firm with a comprehensive suite of security services. A major milestone for us was our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team quickly adapted services to help clients navigate new challenges, reinforcing our reputation for reliability and agility. We survived the pandemic with our full team in employment. We supported a diverse range of individuals through complex and varied security challenges. It was tough, but incredibly rewarding.

Q6: What’s next for Priavo Group? How do you see the company evolving in the future?

Celine Shabbas Murphy: The future is all about working in partnership with our clients and global suppliers, continuing to innovate and add value. Protecting people’s fundamental right to safety and security is at the heart of what we do. We’re looking at new markets, particularly in regions where we see a growing need for flexible and sophisticated risk management solutions. We’re also investing in new technologies to enhance our service offering and deliver further security enhancement to our clients. Sustainability, community and corporate social responsibility will be an important focus for me as well, as I believe that being a responsible business is key to long-term success.

Pete Murphy: We’ll continue to build on the strong foundation we’ve established, always with an eye on the future and the changing dynamics of global security. Our goal is to remain at the forefront of the industry by offering cutting-edge solutions that anticipate our clients’ needs. This means not just expanding our physical, technical and digital services, but also deepening our expertise in areas like cyber security and crisis management, integrating fast evolving AI and ML technology. Ultimately, our mission remains the same: to provide our clients with the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are in safe hands, no matter where they are in the world.

Q7: Finally, what advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their own companies?

Pete Murphy: My advice would be to stay true to your vision but flexible in your approach. The market is constantly changing, and you need to be able to adapt without losing sight of your core values. Also, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you—build a team that complements your strengths and compensates for your weaknesses.

Celine Shabbas Murphy: I’d add that it’s important to be patient and persistent. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and there will be challenges along the way. But if you’re committed to your mission and willing to put in the work, you can overcome any obstacles. Never underestimate the power of building strong relationships—with your team, your clients, your suppliers and partners. These relationships are what will help guide you through the ups and downs of business in an evolving global marketplace.

For media enquiries please contact:
Samuel Ackland-Jones | Senior Comms Strategist – sam.ackland-jones@priavosecurity.com.