Chairman

General Pete Schoomaker, USA (Ret.)

General Pete Schoomaker, USA (Ret.) is a retired four-star general with over 35 years of active service. Following his initial retirement, Pete founded Quiet Pros Inc. where he consults and instructs on national security matters.

During his military service he commanded at every level in special operations, culminating as Commander-in-Chief, United States Special Operations Command where he was responsible for all aspects of special forces including Army’s Green Berets, Rangers, and Night Stalker Aviation, Navy SEALs and Special Boat Units, Air Force Special Operations Wings, and Para-rescue and Combat Controllers.

In 2003, Pete was recalled to active duty by the President of the United States and Secretary of Defense to serve as the Army Chief of Staff. He returned to retirement in 2007.

Pete has a BS in Education, an MA in Management, and an Honorary Doctorate-of-Laws. Additionally, he is a graduate of U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, National War College, Harvard JFK School of Government’s National and International Security Management Program, Leadership at the Peak Program, and the Center for Creative Leadership.  He continues to sit on various public, closely held, and non-profit boards.

Senior Advisor

Julian Browne MBE

Senior Advisor

General The Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE DL

General Nick Houghton is a former United Kingdom Chief of Defence Staff - the professional Head of the UK’s Armed Forces. He stood down in July 2016 and is now the Constable of The Tower of London and a Cross-Bench Peer in the House of Lords.

Nick Houghton joined the Army in 1973. He was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Green Howards, a Yorkshire Infantry Regiment. In his early twenties, he undertook an in-service degree in Modern History at St Peter’s College, Oxford. In a 43-year military career, he served seven times in Northern Ireland earning operational awards as both a Commanding Officer and a Brigade Commander in Belfast. He was the Deputy Commander of the Multi-National Force Iraq in 2005-6 for which he was awarded the US Legion of Merit. He was the Chief of Joint Operations from April 2006 to May 2009, in charge of all overseas operations of UK Forces, including the final extraction from Iraq. He was both Vice Chief then Chief of Defence Staff over the period 2009-2016 during the time of two Strategic Defence Reviews and the end of combat operations in Afghanistan. He was the Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps and the founding Colonel of the Yorkshire Regiment.

On leaving the Army Nick Houghton established his own consultancy company specialising in strategic advice to multinational corporates. He also advises a number of technology start-ups. More widely he is a Trustee of the Royal United Services Institute, Historic Royal Palaces, Royal Armouries and The HM Tower of London Chapels Royal Foundation. He is an Honorary Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford.

Senior Advisor

Mike Shaler

Mike Shaler is the President of Steamboat Leadership Institute and has over 26 years of experience in the design and implementation of leadership development programs for corporates, government departments, the military, and non-profit organizations.  He additionally serves as an executive coach and facilitates strategic planning and corporate-level solution sessions. 

Mike served in the US Amy for 30 years and directed its Strategic Leadership Development Program, was a Strategic Advisor to the Army Chief of Staff for eight years and has served as a member of the US Army Science Board.  He holds a BA degree in Psychology, an MBA from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and is a graduate of National Defense University and Army War College.

Chief Executive Officer

Michael Rodenburg

Michael leads the Guardiar business globally and has over 22 years’ experience in the security industry. He is an Executive member of Præsidiad and a Board Member of Hesco Ltd, a leading developer of earth-filled barrier technologies. He is the Chairman of Vulcan Properties and Real Estate, South Africa.

Michael started his career as Group Accountant for a German banker’s African assets, after which he was Group Management Accountant for Everite Ltd., a South African listed leader in manufacturing building products. Following this role, he became a Partner at one of the leading below-the-line marketing companies in South Africa.

In 1993 he started his own accounting firm, which was successfully sold. In 1999 Michael founded a manufacturing business in South Africa together with Bekaert which became Betafence High Security and has now transformed into Guardiar globally.

He holds a Business Administration degree from the University of Cape Town and is a Qualified Chartered Administrator ACIS.

Chief Financial Officer

Chris Vaughn

Chris began his finance career in the Aerospace & Defense industry, gaining valuable experience in the areas of government contracts and managing complex projects. With over 15 years of experience in the financial management field, he has established himself as a respected finance professional.  Leading the Guardiar finance team as Chief Financial Officer, Chris excels at creating stability in processes and optimizing business environments in which operations can thrive. He is a Certified Management Accountant with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Managing Director EMEA & APAC

Michael James

Michael joined the company in 2006 as an Account Manager in the South African sales department, where he established himself as a key figure in the Southern African market. In this role, he was continuously driving growth and delivering results and was ultimately appointed as Managing Director for the EMEA region. Michael has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing & sales management as well as Business Development. He holds qualifications in Executive Leadership and Sales & Marketing.

Managing Director Americas

Chad Scott

Chad is a veteran of the security industry, with more than 18 years’ experience in perimeter protection. He started his career in the Seattle area where he worked for a regional manufacturer and a larger national manufacturer, before starting his own wholesale company. Chad joined Guardiar as Director of Sales in 2010 and currently serves as Managing Director AME.

Chief Technology Officer

Timothy Messelis

Timothy is recognized as an expert in perimeter security technology and solutions. He has more than 14 years of experience in both hardware and software product development and management and holds a Master of Science degree in Electronics & ICT. As Chief Technology Offices, Timothy is responsible for leading Guardiar’s global team of engineers and IT experts to provide innovative custom solutions to customers.

Projects Director

Ockie Swanepoel

Ockie started his career in the security industry in 2005 as a group consultant for a major security upgrade project for 47 correctional facilities. After the completion of the project, Ockie joined Guardiar in a permanent capacity as Projects Director. In addition to overseeing global project execution, he is also responsible for the Group’s integrated management system. Ockie is passionate about advancing project precision and quality to the smallest detail.  

Director Corporate Development

Michèle James

Michele develops the Guardiar Global Brand Strategy and leads the marketing implementation. She heads up Business Intelligence & Research Analysis for the organization. Prior to this, Michele headed up legal advisory services for the Betafence Projects division – this included assessing contractual risks and ensuring compliance with regards to both legal & regulatory obligations for projects from Papua New Guinea, Burundi, Morocco, Peru, and Singapore.

Director HR

Gustav Bothma

With more than 10 years’ experience in the manufacturing & engineering industries, Gustav is a seasoned Human Resource professional leading the Guardiar HR team. With a passion for working with diverse cultures he focuses on building relationships to connect the group globally and to act as trusted business partner. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, an Honors degree in Human Resource Management and completed his MBA in 2012.

General Counsel

Chi Lam

Chi has extensive experience providing legal and risk management advice on large international construction and commercial projects in the United States, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Prior to joining Guardiar he served in various in-house legal positions for a leading Fortune 500 technology and engineering company, as well as for a multinational construction company. Chi is responsible for managing all of Guardiar’s legal matters and is licensed to practice law in various jurisdictions in the United States.

Team Lead: Mechanical Engineering, USA

Alex Atala

Alex is the team leader of Guardiar’s Mechanical Engineering division based in the USA. He is a Mechanical Design Engineer with more than 25 years of experience in product development and manufacturing. His career spans multiple sectors including defense, firearms, and medical industries. Alex holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Regulatory and Compliance Manager

Amanda Venter

Amanda has over 25 years’ experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality, health and safety improvement tools and training programs. She is highly experienced in construction environments and has a proven track record of assisting organizations to transform and streamline existing systems and processes in order to continuously improve outcomes.

Program Finance Director

Andrew Gartman

Andrew brings over 12 years’ experience to the Guardiar Finance team.  Prior to this, he was the High-Security Finance Program Manager at Betafence Group. In his early career, Andrew worked in the aerospace and defense sectors, gaining valuable experience in managing projects, corporate financial planning, and IT systems development.  Andrew holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Economics and a Master’s Degree in Investor Relations.

Team Lead: Controls Engineering, USA

Dacian Zainea

Dacian has more than 7 years’ experience in industrial and OEM automation and controls systems. In his current role, he is responsible for leading the electrical and controls team for Guardiar’s high security active vehicular line of equipment, based in the USA. Previously he was a Controls Engineer at Betafence. Dacian has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.

Regional Sales Manager: IMEA

Emad Baghdadi

Emad is the Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East, based in Dubai. He joined Guardiar in 2017 and has over 5 years’ experience in providing high-security solutions to various sectors including oil and gas, airports, borders, and various governmental entities. Emad has an MBA in the Science of Security Studies.

Manager of Information Technology

Fred Reich

Fred has over 20 years’ experience in information technology, including networks, server infrastructure, software, and telecommunications. He holds a Master’s of Business degree in Technology Management.  Fred joined Guardiar in 2018.

Operations Manager: IMEA

Gabrielle Brown

Gabrielle is the IMEA regional High-Security Project Operations Manager based in South Africa. She has over 20 years’ experience as a product and estimation specialist for high-security perimeter protection projects. She is responsible for leading the Bid Management team in the IMEA region. Previously she was a Logistics Manager at Betafence, where she was responsible for managing the systems, processes, and structures within the Betafence supply chain.

Director of Business Development: Technology

Gareth Dewey

Gareth is a business development specialist with a wealth of experience in the perimeter security industry. He joined Guardiar in 2015 and is responsible for the total perimeter turnkey solutions. Gareth holds qualifications in sales and marketing as well as business management through various tertiary institutes, he was one of the first registered and certified sales professionals through the United Professional Selling Association (UPSA).

Operations Executive

Gene Wegener

Gene has 40 years’ experience in manufacturing and production management. He started his career in the mining industry before moving onto works, quality and process management roles in the manufacturing industry.  His role also includes overseeing operations and supply chain for the IMEA region, as well as engineering, quality, health, and safety. Gene holds a Mechanical Engineering qualification

Director of Business Development: Perimeter Protection

Glenn Schluter

Glenn is a professional security consultant with over 27 years’ experience. He specializes in perimeter security solutions and has a special interest in lifestyle estates and sports facility security.  He has considerable experience in infrastructure development across multiple sectors including education and health. He has also been involved in projects in the national intelligence space and conservation.

Senior Project Manager

Henri Trollip

Henri joined the company in 2009. He is an expert in perimeter security project management and engineering consulting and has since managed various security projects across the globe in remote and complex territories. Projects range from installing perimeter fencing and crash-rated barriers to integrating detection and surveillance technology. Henri holds a degree in Civil Engineering as well as an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Managing Director: Oil & Gas

James Langford

Prior to joining Guardiar James was the Senior Vice President for Olive Group, where he ran the company’s Global Risk Management and Crisis Response business.  For eleven years James worked for Schlumberger Oilfield Services as a Regional Head of Security, with extensive experience in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.  He was a Commissioned Officer in the British military and currently resides in Dubai.

Team Lead, R&D: Belgium

Koen Vandecasteele

Koen is the R&D team leader based in Belgium. He joined Betafence (now Guardiar) in 2006 as a project engineer for the European market; in 2008 his role was expanded to include the export market. Koen has a solid track record of designing and installing high-security fences.

Operations Manager: USA

Melisa Eaton

Melisa joined Betafence (now Guardiar) in 2014 following the acquisition of SecureUSA, Inc. She runs the pre-construction bid center located in Florida, USA. Melisa is responsible for estimating CAD operations, project administration, and contract negotiations. She has 15 years’ experience as a project manager with deep knowledge of the pre-bid contract process. Melisa has a degree in Construction Management.

Commercial Director: IMEA

Philippe Antossevitch

Philippe is an experienced sales and projects director. After graduating with a Master’s degree in Global Marketing from the United Kingdom, he held several key sales positions in various industrial sectors. He has deep experience in managing complex perimeter security projects; and has an in-depth understanding of the key constraints of high-risk sectors and projects including defense, critical infrastructure protection, transport infrastructure, energy, and utilities.

Team Lead Security Engineering: USA

Paul Morales

Paul has over 10 years’ experience in the electronic security industry. He has an extensive track record of global rollouts and design in IP-based unified security solutions. He also holds advanced technical certifications with most leading manufacturers and vendors in the physical/electronic security space. Prior to joining Guardiar in 2017, he worked in various engineering roles for Northeast-based technology integration firms before relocating to South Florida.

Director of Sales: Americas

Paul StJean

As Director of Sales for the Americas, Paul brings 15 years of experience in security perimeter solutions. He has managed multiple large-scale security projects, including airports, borders, and utilities.  Paul understands shareholder value and directs his team to meet the needs of high-security customers.

Regional Financial Manager

Rachelle Smith

Rachelle is a chartered accountant and is responsible for leading Guardiar South Africa’s finance team. Before joining Guardiar in 2018, she worked in the mobile payments and manufacturing industries. Rachelle is committed to creating a control environment that is both efficient and effective.

Business Development Manager: Africa

Shaun Turner

Shaun is an ex-military security specialist; he spent 20 years in the armed forces before specializing in security solutions in the private sector. For the past 15 years, he has been involved in a variety of high-security projects in the defense and maritime sectors in the Middle East and Africa. Shaun holds the equivalent of a BSc Nautical Sciences and has project management qualifications.

Electromechanical Engineer

Stefanos Synodinos

Stefanos has 10 years’ experience and has held various technical and management positions in this time. He is based in Belgium and works in Guardiar’s R&D division, where he specializes in hostile vehicle mitigation products and customized crash rated products. Stefanos holds a Bachelor’s degree in Automation Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Energy.

Director of Sales: South Africa

Wayne Schneeberger

Wayne’s strong technical background in the security industry is built on 16 years of experience in the financial services, retail, logistics, and utility sectors. In various international management roles, Wayne has proven to deliver results by aligning his teams to strategic requirements of customers and focussing on collaboration.