International Executive Security Monitor

As we discuss with clients, international executive security is about MORE than just kidnap and ransom insurance.  We have been asked by existing kidnap and ransom insurance clients to produce a comprehensive checklist of what items need to be addressed by most companies that employ expatriates.  Here is our overview for Expatriate International Security:

1. Pre-departure security training for the expatriate;  What activities, locations, and behaviors should be avoided in the host country to stay out of trouble.  This should be integrated into cross cultural training.
2. Emergency security plan for expatriates.  Does the host country need an emergency security plan for expatriates in case they need to leave the country or stay safe during an incident?  For example, if expatriates are in the U.K. an emergency security plan may not be necessary.  If they are in India, after what happened in Mumbai a few years ago yes, an emergency security plan is in order.  No matter how “safe the country” we learned after 9-11 that expatriates should be given security instructions and guidelines for just about ANY host country.
3. Making sure expatriates don’t know about the existence of a Kidnap and Ransom insurance policy, yet expatriates should be ready and able to call the emergency phone number if they feel threatened.
4. Host country work site assessment by an international security professional.  Again, the urgency to assess the safety of the work site will vary by country, and even by region in the host country.
5. Misc expenses related to proper host country security.  Drivers | Alarms | Security enhanced SUV | Local body guards, etc.

Unfortunately, most employers that send people to work internationally as expatriates only score a C on the above, including kidnap and ransom insurance.  Universities sending faculty to travel or work abroad get the worst grade and do very little for their employees from a security perspective.