Spotlight | Australia, France, United Kingdom, United States
Naval Group's covey of advisers foiled by a phone call to London

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Japan expert joins Naval Group, Protectas to guard EU sites, ex-Rio Tinto investigator launches own firm

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every Wednesday, we report on events big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community.

ParisJapan expert joins Naval Group's safety department

GenevaProtectas awarded contract to secure three EU sites in Switzerland

LondonEx-Rio Tinto consultant enters private investigation market

France
DGSE takes on economic sovereignty

The French external intelligence agency has opened a mission centre dedicated to economic interests. The new unit will aim to detect economic predation, support French business and help patch over certain failures, at the risk of doubling up on the work of other centres.

Spotlight | Australia, France, Israel, United States
Paris tightens red tape on employees of US, Australian and Israeli embassies

Some embassies in France are questioning the increase in red tape their employees are having to go through amid geopolitical and security tensions.

Spotlight | Australia, United States
Burdeshaw, AECOM, Civic Partnership and CMAX maintain US presence in Australian defence sector

US defence manufacturers looking to cash in on Australian defence contracts can count on the support of an extensive local network of American advisers and lobbyists in the naval, air, cyber and space sectors.

Spotlight | China, France, Japan, Singapore, United States
All eyes on DGSE's move into Indo-Pacific

The former head of French external intelligence agency, the DGSE, is opening an office in Singapore to help it expand its presence in the region. China is keeping a close watch, as are France's European and US allies.

France
Paris pursues big submarine ambitions in Indo-Pacific

With tensions rising in the waters around China, a busy year of submarine sales prospection is in store for Naval Group and its defence partners in Jakarta, Manila, Delhi and Brunei.

France
French parliament mulls over government's capacity for strategic anticipation

A parliamentary report by French MP Jean-Charles Larsonneur published late last month raises the need for heightened cooperation on strategic anticipation at an inter-ministerial level, and not only within the intelligence services.

United States
Thales still counts on top Democrat Tom Daschle's Pentagon connections

The French industry giant, which has won a major contract for the Pentagon's communications systems, has The Daschle Group to rely on when it comes to gathering Democratic support in the US.

France, South Korea, United Kingdom
France, UK, muscle into Seoul's Indo-Pacific plans

Since South Korea began openly discussing its position in the debate over the Indo-Pacific region's political and strategic architecture, delegations of French and British officials have been pouring into the country in an attempt to wield influence.

France
Plans to strengthen French intelligence in the Indo-Pacific stalled

A French parliamentary report calls for both the development of new air and space intelligence capabilities and increased cooperation in this area with France's allies in the Indo-Pacific. But with no change to its capacity and its attention caught up in the Russian offensive in Ukraine, these plans look set to be stunted in the short term.

China, European Union
European Commission hires US's Rhodium to monitor Chinese investments

The New York firm will keep a database on Chinese direct investments in Europe, following a less than stellar report on the European mechanism to control foreign investment that came into force in October 2020.

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Risk&Co, Inter-Mediate, Thales

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: each week, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week we go to Paris and London.

ParisLe Floch's arrival helps Risk & Co further accentuate its shift towards cyber.

LondonThales adviser Lord Nick Houghton questions AUKUS in the House of Lords.

LondonGilles de Kerchove begins his reconversion at Inter-Mediate.

France, India
Non-proliferation intel keeps brakes on French-Indian nuclear cooperation

France's growing nuclear production and nuclear-powered submarine prospects with the Indian government are being held in check by current regulations, with the French customs intelligence unit caught between France's ambitions and international non-proliferation treaties.

Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, United States
US defence groups conduct Greek sales offensive in Washington as well as Athens

US arms manufacturers have applauded the adoption of the new bilateral cooperation agreement adopted by Congress in late December with the backing of the Democrats and lobbyists from the United States's Greek community.

Australia, France
Australian lobbying firm Dragoman visits Paris after derailed Naval Group submarine deal

The lobbying firm used by Naval Group to save its submarine deal with the Australian government has been prospecting for new business from the French defence industry.

Europe, France, Germany, Netherlands
Vimac Consultancy adds diplomatic touch to TKMS Dutch submarine bid

Business diplomacy firm Vimac Consultancy helps German shipyard TKMS boost its bid to supply The Hague with four new submarines. It is facing stiff competition from France's Naval Group and the Saab-Damen duo, which also have strong networks in the country.

France, India
France's Naval Group looks for new submarine contracts in Indo-Pacific region

Following the cancellation of its mega 12-submarine contract with Australia on 15 September, France's Naval Group is making a fresh effort to find new contracts in the Indo-Pacific region. The countries offering the best prospects, however, are currently facing short-term budget constraints.

United Kingdom
National Security Secretariat execs courted by private sector

The NSS, created in 2010 to liaise with the prime minister on intelligence policy, is a hotbed for those who want to work for private groups.

Australia, France
Naval Group taps another lobbyist in attempt to allay submarine deal concerns

David Gazard will be the third lobbyist Naval Group has hired in Australia in less than a year. The company is increasingly touting its use of local firms as a means to reassure the Australian government of progress on the mega submarine contract.

France
France pushes for more intelligence-sharing in Indo-Pacific

The updated version of France's Indo-Pacific strategy opts for greater cooperation with India and Australia, as well as with ASEAN countries.

Australia, France
Naval Group hires ex-trade minister as Australia submarine deal stumbles

Naval Group, which has a contract to deliver twelve submarines to Canberra, recruited Simon Crean last month.

Australia, France
Dragoman's influential advisers wheeled out to save Naval Group's submarine deal

The Australian and French press have been awash with articles as Naval Group worked to keep its major submarine order afloat. The company is being helped by Dragoman, the lobbying firm founded by former Australi defence minister Robert Hill and whose advisers include former French diplomat Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

Danone's Moroccan branch tries one last throw of financial dice

The danger signals are everywhere for Centrale Danone, the Moroccan subsidiary of the French dairy giant, which has launched a financial salvage operation. The stakes are high for the parent company, since Morocco is its main African market.

Britain's Atkins unveils plans for Nairobi train station mega-project

Atkins Global consulting firm has beaten off competitors from Korea and the Arabian Peninsula with its plans for Nairobi's giant new train station, which were unveiled last month with great fanfare.