Watan Risk - Key Personnel
Group CEO
The CEO of Watan Group has been in the security industry for over 20 years. He has provided security to government ministers and prominent Afghan businessmen . Not only does he have an excellent understanding of international security standards, but he is able to combine that with first-class knowledge of Afghan government and tribal politics. Using this knowledge Watan Risk is able to minimise the threat to client's assets through careful negotiation with tribal leaders, often reducing the overall cost of security to the client. He is founder and president of the Union of Afghan Security Companies.
Country Manager
A former British Army Specialist serving within the Speical Forces Group he has spent over five years in Afghanistan providing security management, training, protection and consultancy services to a wide variety of clients including the UN, NGOs and corporate clients. He is able to provide all levels of security planning and assist with project set up and management. He has a wealth of experience in the security industry including Iraq and Indonesia and this combined with his business management skills ensures the clients recieves a high level of service. He oversees all business within the Group and supports the CEO in management of current client database and order book.
Regional Manager Central
During his time in the Royal Marines as an SNCO he managed the security at one of the UK's two principle Special Forces bases in Poole, UK which saw him work with Home Office, Buckingham Palace and Security Service. Subsequently he consulted to the Home Office for rural physical security, including consultancy for the Prime Minister's Residence and strategic locations in Northern Ireland. He has experience in diplomatic Close Protection and also in the private sector. He spent four years as advisor to the UAE Marine battalion embedded as an officer in a platoon, providing training and support during live operations. He has provided independent Security consultancy in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and Afghanistan prior to joining Watan. The experience gained through working alone with Arab's enables him to fully understand Islamic sensitivities and culture enabling him to identify and adapt to our clients needs. As the Regional Manager Central he is responsible for business development in Kabul and central region whilst overseeing Watan Risk Management's corporate business.
Senior Operations Manager
He is Watan Risk Management's Senior Operations Manager, overseeing all the group's operations and support to project managers and staff. He has spent over three years in country with previous experience in various other hostile environments. He served in the British Army for 17 years as part of the Special Forces Group and has conducted a diverse range of operations. He has excellent experience and knowledge of Afghanistan and has worked with and trained the British Embassy Close Protection teams. He has excellent management experience with large-scale projects and works closely with the Country Manager and Support Manager to support projects and clients.
Regional South Manager
He is Watan Risk Managements Regional South Manager, overseeing the groups Southern Operations, vehicles, maintaince, equipment and training support. Formerly with the British Royal Marine Commando Special Forces Group he is a highly qualified manager with a diverse range of experience in country. He works very closely with the national staff to ensure that the skill set from the International Management is passed down to the Watan national staff. He has an extensive network of contacts that ensures that our clients receive the required levels of service and skills within country on a cost effective basis.
Regional South Assistant Manager
He is a former British Army Warrant Officer with extensive experience operating in hostile environments. He has worked in Iraq, South America and more recently Afghanistan. He works in support of the Regional South Manager and is a direct link for the clients operating in the South. He is based on Kandahar Air Base and manages the Watan Compound. He is also responsible for our capacity building programme in the South.
Senior Business Manager - Watan Group
He is a former British Army Officer with extensive experience living and operating in hostile environments throughout the Middle East and South West Asia. He has served with US forces in Iraq, serving on General Petreaus' staff. He was head of security for the British Embassy in southern Afghanistan (RSO equivalent) over the very difficult period 2006-7. More recently he has been Country Manager for Olive Group and now heads Watan's Business Unit. He will provide key client liaison.
Senior Business Manager - Watan Group
She has worked in the field of program management with four years in-country experience in Afghanistan (inclusive of USAID, US-BPRM, EC, & UN funded Health, Democracy & Governance, Education, and Refugee sectors). Special focus on challenges of monitoring and evaluation in less permissive environments. Implementation of community driven reconstruction programs via work with two high profile projects: National Solidarity Program (World Bank & MRRD / Afghanistan) and the UNDP RESPECT Program (Timor Leste). She was responsible for direct and in-direct programmatic oversight in over 20 provinces within Afghanistan. More recently, her work with the USAID-funded Local Governance & Community Development Project involved direct collaboration with and technical support to FPOs/PRTs in 16 provinces in South and Southeast Afghanistan. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and a dual M.B.A. in Marketing and Operations Management. Her professional experience spans both operational and programmatic roles, as well as collaboration with multi-sectoral interests and all levels of stakeholders.
Operations and Training Manager
He is Watan's dedicated Operations and Training Manager. A graduate from the Indian Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), he was Chief of Staff to the Afghan Army in Kabul during the turbulent post-Soviet period. He has also served as Assistant Head of Intelligence at the Afghan Ministry of Defence and his last role was the Senior Liaison Officer between the MoD, NATO and US Forces. He is able to manage and oversee all levels of security operations and training, providung operational support to all our clients and project managers to ensure our projects run smoothly at all times. He also provides operational control of the Crisis Management Team in the event of an incident or emergency and oversees all our training packages.
As an Afghan company we have a full understanding of both the political and security environment across the country. We also take the approach that all staff are important to an organisation's success and ensure both national and international staff are provided with the appropriate security and advice.