In this exclusive interview with Mr. Ashley Almanza, Executive Chairman, Allied Universal® International, we delve into the remarkable journey of G4S in India, the company’s commitment to innovation, and its vision for the future.
Allied Universal is a private security and staffing company that provides security services and facility solutions. It is the world’s largest provider of private security guards and the third largest US-based employer globally. It offers proactive security services and smart technology to clients in a variety of sectors, including: Education, Healthcare, Retail, Commercial real estate and Government and corporate campuses.
Allied Universal was formed in 2016 by the merger of AlliedBarton and Universal Services of America. In 2021, Allied Universal acquired the British security firm G4S.
With over 30 years of experience in the Indian market, G4S has grown into a trusted leader in the private security industry. Mr. Almanza shares insights into the company’s approach to talent development, technological advancements, and its efforts to promote gender equality. He also discusses the dynamic transformation of India’s business landscape and the growing opportunities within the country. Let’s hear from Mr. Ashley Almanza as he reflects on the evolution of G4S and the promising future of India’s private security sector.
ST: Thank you for this opportunity to interview you and hear your insights on the Indian security market. SECURITY TODAY’s association with G4S dates back to 2004 when we launched our very first edition. We deeply appreciate the support G4S extended to our security industry education and awareness initiative right from the start.
AA: Thank you for taking the time to interview me. First, let me congratulate and commend SECURITY TODAY on completing 20 successful years of publishing! Our relationship has always been mutually supportive and symbiotic, and I look forward to continuing this journey together.
Both G4S and SECURITY TODAY have made significant strides since our association began. Today, G4S proudly employs 130,000 people in India, a testament to our remarkable growth. Following our merger with Allied Universal in 2021, we now have a global workforce of 800,000 employees. India stands as our second-largest market after the United States, where we employ 300,000 people. Together, these two countries account for half of our global workforce, underscoring the critical importance of the Indian market to our operations.
ST: How do you perceive India as a market?
AA: My association with India dates back to the mid-90s when I first started visiting the country. At the time, I was in the energy sector and had the opportunity to be part of several significant ventures, including the acquisition of Gujarat Gas and Mahanagar Gas, as well as partnerships with ONGC and Reliance Energy. These experiences have nurtured a deep fondness for India and an unwavering optimism about its growth.
India is a crucial market for us, and we remain committed to investing here. Interestingly, G4S recognized the potential of the Indian security market as far back as the late 80s—long before many others. This foresight led to the establishment of our operations in India decades ago, a decision that continues to resonate with our vision for the future.
ST: How long have you been a part of the private security industry (PSI)?
AA: I officially joined the PSI in 2013, so it’s been 11 years now. I was the CEO of G4S Plc from 2013 until 2021 (Allied Universal acquired G4S Worldwide in 2021). However, my connection to the industry goes back much further. During my 20 years in the Oil & Gas sector, I was a consumer of security services and systems. Security and safety were critical in that inherently hazardous industry, particularly in exploration. If you think about it, security and safety are two sides of the same coin.
Given its importance, I devoted significant time to ensuring robust security measures for our operations. Security has always been more than just a professional necessity for me—it’s a personal passion. Whether as a customer in my earlier role or now as a service provider, security continues to be a central focus of my work and interest.
Are you satisfied with G4S’s growth in India?
AA: G4S has demonstrated consistent growth over the years and we have the ambition to achieve much more. Rajeev Sharma, our Country Managing Director, has played a pivotal role in driving customer service and growth. The feedback from customers in India has been outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of the progress made under his leadership.
ST: How do you perceive G4S as a company?
Our ambition is to be the best services company in the world. While security remains our core foundation and a critical focus area, our broader vision extends to excelling as a global leader in delivering exceptional services across the board.
ST: You’re being modest—being the largest private services company in the world and still striving for excellence is truly admirable!
Thank you, but being the largest doesn’t automatically mean being the best. Achieving excellence requires a clear vision, strong ambition, and the dedication to put in the hard work. Our journey to be the best is ongoing. As we bring new people into the organisation, we seek individuals who are not only skilled but also passionate and eager to serve our customers with spontaneity and care.
One of our core values is agility. When you’re small, agility comes naturally. However, as you grow larger, maintaining that agility and staying highly responsive to customer needs becomes a significant challenge. This is a critical area where we continuously strive to improve and excel.
ST: What are the other key areas of business you’re focusing on?
AA: I would say that innovation and technology are currently at the forefront of our efforts. In July last year, we launched our Security Risk Operations Center (SROC) in India. This level of technological sophistication is new to the Indian market and promises to bring tremendous value to our customers. On a global scale, technology accounts for $1.6 billion in revenue for us. While we’re still in the early stages in India, we’re excited to introduce high-tech solutions here.
More than 80,000 of our personnel are continuously connected to our “Pulse Centre” via their mobile phones, enabling two-way data communication with our monitoring teams. The health and safety of our officers is another crucial area we prioritise. They can raise a red flag at any time to receive support from our central teams, whether it’s an emergency or a routine request. We can track their location through geo-location and QR codes, and we monitor all our officers conducting security patrols, among other activities.
We offer these same capabilities to our clients, providing them with real-time dashboards so they can see exactly what we see. This transparency is a key aspect of our approach, and there truly is no limit to what can be achieved with technology. I’m very pleased with the success of this program in India—it has exceeded expectations and performed better than in many other markets where we operate.
ST: How do you view technology? Will it replace humans?
AA: We bring advanced technology to India, while also tapping into the vast pool of skilled talent the country has to offer. Looking ahead, we are committed to investing in upskilling our officers. The United States is both our largest market and the most technologically advanced, and customers there demand high-quality, well-trained, and well-supervised security officers who are enabled by technology.
It’s not about one replacing the other—technology is there to enhance the capabilities of our officers. The combination of skilled personnel and cutting-edge technology creates significant value, benefiting both our officers and the customers we serve.
ST: Does investing in your officers make sense, given the high attrition rate in this industry?
AA: When we recruit staff, we don’t just offer a job; we offer a career. Many of our employees worldwide started with us as entry-level officers (guards), and some have advanced to senior management roles. For example, the individual who now leads our Latin American operations across 14 countries began his journey with us as a security officer. We believe in investing in our people!
ST: We recall an instance from a few years ago when a G4S security supervisor in Chennai studied for and passed the prestigious UPSC exam, ultimately starting his career in the Indian Administrative Services and joining the Collector’s office in his district. Is that true?
AA: Yes, Rajeev has shared that remarkable story and we believe many of our employees are capable of great success. I also learned that another member of our team, while working at a client’s location on a university campus, was inspired to study and successfully passed the IAS exam!
ST: That’s truly remarkable. It speaks volumes about G4S’s ability to provide a stable and supportive work environment that allows employees the peace of mind to pursue their educational goals and succeed in such a challenging exam. It really highlights the positive culture of the organisation!
AA: In fact, our system offers a wide range of educational courses covering subjects such as management, leadership, finance, and sales, all of which our employees can access via laptops, tablets, or mobile phones. These courses are highly popular across all levels of the organisation. This open access to learning encourages personal development and helps our staff acquire new skills, making them more versatile. A connected, skilled officer delivers greater value to both our customers and to us.
ST: What aspect of your work or the company’s progress are you most proud of?
AA: I’m truly pleased with how Sanjay Verma, our Regional CEO, Asia Pacific and Rajeev have developed the business, the teams, and the systems. Talent is distributed equally among males and females, yet historically, businesses have overlooked the talent available in women by excluding them from the workforce. It makes me proud to see Rajeev actively recruiting more women at all levels of our organisation. In fact, our operations leader is a woman, which is quite rare in our industry.
I take great pride in the fact that globally, Allied Universal and G4S have made the conscious decision to include women in our workforce—without compromising on talent or efficiency. This commitment promotes gender equality while also enhancing the skills and capabilities of our female workforce to meet the high standards we set for every position in the organisation.
ST: What are your parting thoughts on India’s and the PSI’s future?
AA: G4S has been investing in India for over 30 years, and we will continue to invest here for the next 30 years and beyond. India is an incredible market with immense potential. There’s no doubt that India is on track to become an economic superpower. It has a vast talent pool and all the right ingredients to achieve this—it’s already happening.
The dynamics are shifting. In the past, we saw global multinational companies coming into India, with our Indian business head reaching out to global leaders here. Now, the tables have turned. Indian multinational companies are expanding overseas, and Rajeev is helping us connect with them in markets like the U.K., Netherlands, and the U.S. It’s truly heartening to witness the confidence India projects today.
In fact, the Indian diaspora is now the most powerful in the world. Another significant shift I’ve observed is that many well-settled Indians, including young people who went abroad for studies, are returning to India to seize the emerging opportunities they see.
ST: Thank you so much for sharing your valuable insights with us today. It’s been a pleasure learning more about G4S’s journey and your vision for the future of both India and the private security industry. We appreciate your time and wish you continued success.
AA: Thank you for the opportunity. It was a pleasure speaking with you. We look forward to achieving even greater milestones together.
