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GEOS was established in 1997 by Stéphane Gerardin and Thierry Laulom. The growing risk exposure of companies to political and criminal risk and the lack of resources available to companies to mitigate those risks were the salient reasons that led us to found the Group. Government responsibility only covers a part of the threat-scape and at the time the company was founded, the only risk management firms to provide an effective response to the security needs of businesses and organizations were all Anglo-American.
Baseline capabilities
Beginning in 1997, GEOS decided to base its business expansion on close cover protection and security details for dignitaries (company directors, individuals) and security audits in Algeria, a country familiar to the first staff members of the company. Very quickly, GEOS began to expand its business by providing international security assistance to French corporations. In 1998, GEOS had a 366,000 euro turnover..
Towards a global package of services
2000 saw the consolidation of GEOS business, and the expansion of service provision to Central Africa, East Africa, South-East Asia and South America. In addition to its international activity, GEOS set up GEOS FRANCE, a dedicated subsidiary on the European continent. In the same year, GEOS restructured as a simplified joint stock company, or SAS, and turnover reached 2,745,000 euro.
2004-2005 : The GEOS Group continued to expand and decided to open its capital.
In 2004, GEOS recorded one of the best performances of the French security market with a turnover of 15.6 million euro and confirmed its position as leader in continental Europe.
In the same year, GEOS opened 34 % of its capital to CONTINENTAL RISK.
This association perfectly matched the demands of the Group’s founders who wished to safeguard the independence of the Group and maintain the synergies of a global risk management culture.
2008 - 2010: Change in shareholding and reinforced corporate governance
2008: The longstanding shareholder of the Group, Continental Risk, owned by Guillaume Verspieren, reinforced its capital share and became majority shareholder. Investment companies Halisol and Participex entered the capital of GEOS as long term investors. Six employees also entered an employee shareholding scheme in March 2008.
2010: As part of an ambitious development plan, the Group shareholders changed GEOS from a limited company (SAS) to a company with Management Board and Supervisory Committee.
Expansion of services and increased presence abroad
GEOS continued its international expansion program. The Group reinforced its regional operations with the establishment of branches and subsidiaries in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Nigeria or Iraq.
The group also extended its package of services to international institutions (NATO, UN, European Commission, governments) with the establishment of a branch in Brussels, and developed new products to meet the requirements of clients (Technical support, HSE).
GEOS in 2010 :
*In accordance with the standards set forth by ISO
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