Control Risks

A landmark election in Mexico

In this Control Risks podcast we hear from Eduardo Arcos, one of the firm's political risk analysts covering Mexico.

Mexican voters head to the polls on July 1 in what will be a watershed election for the country during a critical political and economic juncture. Eduardo dials in from Mexico City to discuss the outlook for Sunday's vote and what investors should really expect from the likely victory of leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). 

---

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Colombia's pivotal election

In this Control Risks podcast we hear from Sergio Guzmán, the firm's lead political risk analyst for Colombia.

As the country gears up for its most pivotal presidential election in decades–the first since the controversial peace deal between the government and the FARC–Sergio dials in from Bogotá to share his pre-election analysis of the race between conservative Ivan Duque and leftist Gustavo Petro, and tells us what investors can expect from the upcoming vote. 

Virtual kidnapping in the United States

Virtual kidnapping is a crime which is traditionally or even principally associated with Latin America. But it is also very common in the US. However, despite how common it is and how much local coverage incidents get, most people still don’t know about virtual kidnapping, and so it continues to thrive. This is partly because virtual kidnapping it isn’t reported on at a national level by large media outlets.

Maritime hijacks increase in Gulf of Guinea

Why are maritime hijacks increasing in the Gulf of Guinea and how can maritime operators mitigate the threat?

The kidnap and security threat in Syria

The Syria conflict is in a new phase following the territorial collapse of IS and the consolidation of the government’s position and territorial advantage. The level of damage to almost every type of infrastructure and commercial operation is huge. Inevitably, companies from across the world are looking at opportunities for working in Syria, but this is not something to be undertaken lightly.

Conflicting governance structures, economic collapse, damaged or destroyed infrastructure, and wide-ranging sanctions make operating in the country extremely challenging. The threat from kidnap-for-ransom will remain extreme in some areas, contributing to a complex and changing security environment.

There is also significant reputational risk and indeed moral hazard associated with investing in a country where numerous and well-publicised human rights abuses have been perpetrated by stakeholders and their associates on all sides.

Podcast contents:

• Islamic State has lost over 90% of the territory it used to control in Syria in mid-2014. Does this translate into a decrease in the kidnap-for-ransom threat?
• What does the kidnap-for-ransom threat mean for organisations and companies seeking to operate in Syria?
• Beyond kidnap-for-ransom, what is the general security situation?
• Outside the security issues, what else should organisations be considering if they want to operate in Syria?

Authors:

• Tania Ildefonso, Special Risks Analyst, Middle East and Asia
• Andrew Freeman, Associate Analyst, Middle East and North Africa

RiskMap Podcast: The corporate security agenda for 2018

The RiskMap Podcast - A conversation about what's happening in the world and what it means for global business. 

In this special edition:

• Jonny Gray, Senior Partner at Control Risks, provides an update from the recent Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) meeting in Washington, and discusses what is front of mind for global security managers as they wrap up a chaotic year in the world of risk. 

 

 

The RiskMap podcast is produced by Control Risks, the global specialist risk consultancy. 

Continue the discussion with us on Twitter @Control_Risks

Host: Charles Hecker

Executive Producer: Julia Livick 

What would you like to hear about on the RiskMap podcast? Email podcast@controlrisks.com with your comments and questions.

For more information visit www.controlrisks.com 

Kidnap-for-ransom in Mozambique, a threat that’s expected to rise

Mozambique’s kidnap environment has stayed steady over the last few years, with one of the most active criminal kidnap-for-ransom environments in Sub-Saharan Africa, although it also has a history of insurgency and politically-related kidnapping.

With increased foreign investment in the oil and gas sector in the north, and investment in other sectors elsewhere in the country, the pool of potential kidnap victims will grow. Control Risks foresees an increase in the kidnapping-for-ransom threat as a result.

This podcast will examine: 

• Mozambique’s current kidnap environment
• Tactics used and who is most targeted
• Which regions have the highest rate of kidnap incidents
• How organisations can mitigate this threat

RiskMap Podcast: Planning for Natural Disasters; Africa Investment Risks & Rewards; Catalonia's Independence Vote

The RiskMap Podcast - A conversation about what's happening in the world and what it means for global business.

In this edition:

• Rebecca Scorzato, a Partner in the Crisis & Resilience Consulting practice in the Americas, talks about what companies can do prior to and in the aftermath of a natural disaster to ensure the safety of their assets and people, and to resume normal business operations. [Minute 1:47]
• The flipside of risk is opportunity. Paul Gabriel, lead author of the Africa Risk/Reward Index published by Control Risks and Oxford Economics, discusses highlights from the report and what investors eyeing the continent ought to consider. [Minute 9:27]
• Nick Panes, head of Control Risks' Global Risk Analysis practice for Europe & Africa, reflects on a recent business trip to Madrid and discusses Catalonia's independence referendum and its impact. [Minute 13:43]

 

The RiskMap podcast is produced by Control Risks, the leading international risk consultancy. 

Continue the discussion with us on Twitter @Control_Risks

What would you like to hear about on the RiskMap podcast? Email podcast@controlrisks.com with your comments and questions.

For more information visit www.controlrisks.com 

‘Tiger kidnapping’ on the rise in Brazil: Who is most at risk?

Control Risks currently records more incidents of so-called ‘tiger kidnapping’ in Brazil than in any other country around the world, with one case on average every ten days this year. In this podcast Joseph Smith, our Special Risks Analyst for the Americas region, explains what this type of kidnapping involves and who is most at risk.

RiskMap Podcast: Venezuela update; Power shifts in Southern Africa; The global cyber threat

The RiskMap Podcast - A conversation about what's happening in the world and what it means for global business.

In this edition:

• Laura Sharkey, an analyst covering the Andean region, provides an update on the crisis in Venezuela and the outlook for businesses operating there as the government of President Nicolas Maduro continues making moves to completely centralize power. [Minute 1:15]
• A series of high profile cyber attacks in recent months have highlighted the significant risks facing global businesses. Nicolas Reyes, Associate Director for Cyber Security, discusses how companies can get ahead of the ever-shifting cyber threat. [Minute 7:58]
• Barnaby Fletcher, an analyst covering Southern Africa, discusses the upcoming presidential election in Angola that will close the 38-year tenure of president José Eduardo dos Santos, South Africa's recent vote to continue the controversial rule of president Jacob Zuma, and how the varying questions around power and leadership throughout the region will impact the business environment. [Minute 16:30]

 

The RiskMap podcast is produced by Control Risks, the leading international risk consultancy.  

Continue the discussion with us on Twitter @Control_Risks

What would you like to hear about on the RiskMap podcast? Email podcast@controlrisks.com with your comments and questions.

For more information visit www.controlrisks.com 

Iraq – Moving past Mosul

In this podcast, Iraq Analyst, Glen Ransom discusses with Allison Wood the challenges facing Iraq following the government’s recapture of Mosul city from Islamic State.

RiskMap Podcast: Opportunity & Risk in Post-Conflict Colombia

The RiskMap Podcast - A conversation about what's happening in the world and what it means for global business.

In this special edition:

• Sergio Guzman, Control Risks' lead analyst for Colombia, discusses the upcoming milestone in the peace process between the Colombian government and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), and what the private sector needs to consider as rebel groups begin reintegrating into politics and the economy after 52 years of armed conflict. 

 

Continue the discussion with us on Twitter @Control_Risks

What would you like to hear about on the RiskMap podcast? Email podcast@controlrisks.com with your comments and questions.

For more information visit www.controlrisks.com 

Turkey: a year on from the coup

In this Control Risks podcast, Cagdas Cataltas and George Dyson discuss the risks and opportunities for international investors in Turkey one year on from the failed coup. They cover Turkey's political status including the state of the opposition as well as key security considerations for businesses operating in Turkey.

RiskMap Podcast: Qatar Crisis; China's Cyber Law; The Violent Insider Threat

The RiskMap podcast - A conversation on geopolitics, security, and the pressing risks facing global business.

In this edition:

• Allison Wood, a Consultant in Control Risks' Dubai office, discusses the diplomatic and economic quarantine of Qatar by its GCC neighbors, the impact of the crisis on companies with operations there, and the future of Gulf relations. [Minute 1:30]
• China recently introduced a new law effectively nationalizing data security, and few organizations are adequately prepared. Carly Ramsey, an Associate Director based in Shanghai, helps us understand the political and technical requirements now facing companies. [Minute 9:10]
• Shawn VanSlyke, a Director for Control Risks and the former chief of the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit and the Crisis Negotiation Unit, explains what organizations should do to assess and mitigate the threat of violent insiders in the workplace, from the personally aggrieved to the ideologically motivated. [Minute 13:45]

 

Continue the discussion with us on Twitter @Control_Risks

What would you like to hear about on the RiskMap podcast? Email podcast@controlrisks.com with your comments and questions.

For more information visit www.controlrisks.com 

Instability to plague UK politics and business after election

In this podcast, Senior Europe Analyst, David Lea, looks at how UK Prime Minister Theresa May will manage the coming months amid great political uncertainty.