Control Risks is a global risk and strategic consulting firm specialising in political, security and integrity risk. Control Risks’ aim is to help its clients to understand and manage the risks of operating in complex or hostile environments. Control Risks brings together the expertise of regional political risk analysts, business intelligence and corporate investigations experts and experienced security consultants to offer fully integrated, information led risk management services. Operating from 34 offices[1], the company’s primary services include anti-corruption audits, consultancy and training, eDiscovery, political risk analysis and a broad range of security and crisis management support.
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Control Risks was formed in 1975, as a professional adviser to the insurance industry. As a subsidiary of insurance broker, Hogg Robinson, Control Risks aimed to help minimize their exposure to kidnap and ransom payouts. The company expanded its capabilities when these crisis management and incident response specialists were joined by political and security risk analysts, before achieving independence in 1982 following a management buyout.
As multinational organizations demanded a more holistic suite of risk management services, Control Risks grew organically delivering a wider range of services from more international locations. In the 1990s, as multinationals started doing business in more unfamiliar territories, business intelligence and investigations became a growth area. Since then Control Risks has conducted due diligence on behalf of many of the world’s largest companies, researching into their potential business partners, agents and employees.
Control Risks formed a Joint Venture with International SOS in 2008, and through this partnership provides a comprehensive suite of travel security services and advice to clients’ business travelers and expatriate employees. In 2010, Control Risks launched an eDiscovery offering to support organizations with complex, multi-national litigation issues.
The company has continued its expansion and today is a business of over 2,000 employees, operating from a network of 34 offices and with an on-the-ground presence in more than 100 countries and cities including; Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Baghdad, Beijing, Berlin, Bogotá, Copenhagen, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Islamabad, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kabul, Lagos, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Washington DC.[2]
In December 2010, the company reported a 10% rise to £136 million in its annual revenues due to oil companies wanting protection in Iraq.[3]
Control Risks’ consultancy support is broken down into three core risk areas: integrity, security and political.
Integrity risk Control Risks helps clients prevent, detect and remediate the integrity risks which come with operating internationally. Services provided include design and delivery of corruption prevention programmes, undertaking transaction related due diligence and agent screening, managing whistleblower hotlines and conducting investigations into allegations of malfeasance.
Political risk A team of political risk analysts provides assessment of how political risk issues impact business at the global, regional and country level through bespoke client report work and the subscription services Country Risk Forecast and PRIME.
Security risk Control Risks provides a broad range of security support to help clients conduct their international projects successfully, whilst protecting their people, environment, assets and reputation. Services provided include threat assessment, embedded consultancy, security design, travel security and executive protection and emergency crisis management and incident response.