Former Nashua CEO Andy Baker has been appointed to head the African division of G4S, the second largest private sector employer in the world, behind US retailer Walmart.

 

The security solutions group said yesterday that Baker, who takes over from Ian Nisbet as regional president for its African division, would oversee “a programme of aggressive acquisitive and organic growth for G4S across Africa over the next three to five years.”

G4S says Baker brings “extensive general and operational management experience in a pan-African context” to the company.

Baker aims to grow the company`s market share in the industries it already has a strong presence in, namely oil and gas, banking, mining, airport security and telecommunications.

“This is an already substantial business. [G4S] is the largest private sector employer in Africa, but there is an opportunity to take it to a new level by focusing on opportunities to grow in our existing territories, as well as to launch our services in a number of new markets.”

He joins G4S from Nashua Group, where he held the position of CEO for 10 months. Baker was COO of Altech for four years, before which he ran Altech Netstar for a year in 2006. Prior to that, in 2000, he was with DHL SA and took on the role of managing director of DHL Turkey in 2005.

African expansion

G4S this week said it would focus on expanding in emerging markets. According to a Reuters report, the firm`s security business grew 5% last year, underpinned by developing markets, including Africa.

In light of this, Baker is designated to oversee the expansion of G4S into at least three new African countries over the next 12 months.

He says his vision is to build on the existing platform and network across Africa.

Baker says his “hands-on experience” in working across Africa and his understanding of the challenges and opportunities the continent offers, operationally and strategically, will stand him in good stead.

G4S Africa employs more than 110 000 people in 30 countries across the continent and is the largest security services firm in the world.

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