23 August, 2018
Highly Accomplished Security Professional’s Experience Includes 10 Years’ Service With High-Pressure British Special Forces and 25 Years in the Private Sector, Primarily in Asia Pacific And Middle East.
Kroll, a division of Duff & Phelps, a global leader in risk mitigation, investigations, compliance, cyber resilience, security and incident response solutions, today announced the appointment of Simon Ashenden as an Associate Managing Director in its Security Risk Management practice, based in Singapore. Ashenden is a highly accomplished security professional, who over the course of a 35-year career translated the skills and experience gained from leading high-pressure missions with the British Special Forces to delivering a wide range of security services for diverse firms in the private sector. Ashenden has spent the last 18 years in Singapore, focused on successfully resolving organizations’ security needs across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. In addition to crisis management, high-risk travel, workplace violence and the protection of people and physical assets, Ashenden has particular expertise in helping clients manage issues with fraud and compliance, cyber security, brand protection and counterfeiting.
“Simon’s diverse experience dovetails well with Kroll’s commitment to provide clients with multidimensional security solutions,” said Timothy Horner, Senior Managing Director and Global Leader of Kroll’s Security Risk Management practice. “Over his distinguished career, Simon has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to achieve successful outcomes by being prepared to consider and strategically address multiple security risk factors. He is joining a strong global cadre of security professionals here at Kroll, and I look forward to his helping our clients meet their most complex risk challenges.”
“We are especially pleased that clients with interests in the Asia Pacific region will be able to draw on Simon’s wealth of knowledge and strong track record of performance managing issues unique to this dynamic risk landscape,” said Tadashi Kageyama, Regional Managing Director and Head of Asia Operations for Kroll. “On behalf of our clients and colleagues throughout the firm, I am delighted to welcome Simon to our team.”
Ashenden transitioned to the private sector in 1993 after 10 years of service as a Commissioned Officer with H.M. Royal Marines. Ashenden commanded a troop of British Special Forces operators in theaters of operations around the world, including the Arctic, Central America, Asia, Middle East and Africa. He was also involved in active service operations in Northern Ireland, Southeast Asia and Central America. During this time, he gained critical experience in making decisions under extreme pressure and leading the team to successful missions. Simon’s service included planning and liaising with U.S. and Australian Special Forces on successful joint operations.
Ashenden joins Kroll from Caterpillar Singapore, where he was Regional Security Manager for South East Asia since 2015. Simon’s responsibilities included staff security throughout the region and leading strategic planning for related issues such as crisis and emergency management, workplace violence, high-risk travel and kidnap/ransom threats. Ashenden designed, implemented and audited risk assessments for new offices, customer locations and countries with new business opportunities. Additionally, he developed and delivered training to staff to create awareness of security and safety standards.
From 2013-2015, Ashenden was Senior Consultant, Brand Protection for VT Consulting. Ashenden worked on security planning with clients in diverse industries, including finance, pharmaceutical, technology, apparel, FMCG and motor industries, with a strong focus on regional security and anti-counterfeiting strategies. Ashenden had earlier served as a Managing Director in the firm from 2010-2012, providing clients with tailored security and brand protection solutions.
Ashenden served as Regional Security Director for Shell Asia-Pacific/Middle East (APME) from 2012-2013 in a contracted role through G4Si Secure Solutions, Singapore. Ashenden was responsible for all security solutions, policy and staff in 14 countries for Shell across APME. This included physical security for upstream and downstream locations, including sites with weapons and technology solutions.
In 1997, Ashenden joined Cisco as a Manager in its Investment Banking Sales Team in London; over the next 13 years, he advanced in progressively more responsible roles, ultimately serving as Regional Director Brand Protection for Asia Pacific and Japan from 2006-2010, based in Singapore. In this role, he was responsible for all brand protection, compliance, fraud and related security issues across the region, to include counterfeit issues, fraud and gray market practices by customers, partners and internal employees. Ashenden was instrumental in developing Cisco’s Global Brand Protection Program, where he conceptualized the program and created a comprehensive plan for implementation. In furtherance of Cisco’s security goals, Ashenden often engaged with local law enforcement agencies, customs and trade organizations, and set up best practices for working with international agencies such as the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and World Trade Organization. Ashenden also raised Cisco’s profile at the Chinese Government level, and through investigative actions, achieve a 70% reduction in counterfeiting of Cisco products.
In an earlier role with the firm as Manager, Anti-Counterfeit Operations, Ashenden achieved counterfeit product recoveries of $500 million over four years and was recognized several times by the Quality Brands Protection Committee-China (QBPC) for best anti-counterfeit operations. Ashenden also won a QBPC award for best legal action, which had led to the longest jail sentence for a counterfeiting charge.
Ashenden earned an MBA in Marketing/Marketing Management at City University in London. He is proficient in Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malayu and understands Mandarin.
