International

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Nardello, Optima, Ilios, Sparacino, DRSD

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 New York, London, Paris and Rome.

New YorkFeldman to take over from Nardello in London.

LondonDeath knell sounds for Optima Defence & Security Group.

Aix-en-Provence/RomeIlios International looks towards Italy.

USSparacino without Veretus.

ParisDRSD boss leaves for Sanofi.

Europe, Russia, UAE
Acustek distributes surveillance countermeasures from Dublin to Dubai

Ireland's Acustek, which markets surveillance countermeasure solutions, has cut its ties with its Russian past and is now looking to the United Arab Emirates, where it is due to open an office soon.

China, Italy
Benedetto Fu gives Matteo Renzi behind scenes advice on China

For the past two years, the Italian former PM has had an adviser secretly helping him to explore partnerships and establish relations with the right people in China, Intelligence Online can reveal.

Ukraine
Ukrainian-orientated lobbyist Yorktown defends telecoms Kyivstar in Washington

Kyivstar, which is facing disrupted networks due to the war and shareholder agitation, is relying on Yorktown Solutions to help it find support in the United States. The consultancy has extensive experience with Ukraine's key sectors.

Cambodia, China
Beijing's painstaking work to open up Cambodia's political and royal doors

In order to have a free hand to develop its naval holdings in the country, Beijing has ensured that it has a dedicated team of businessmen in Prime Minister Hun Sen's entourage.

Taiwan
Taiwan's military procurement ambitions keep 'business diplomats' busy

With the threat of a Chinese military invasion in the air, Taiwan is building up its military defences, prompting local and international companies to mobilise their defence consultants.

Kazakhstan, United Kingdom
Mining conglomerate ENRC heirs take charge of family business affairs

ENRC's founding trio have passed the baton to the next generation, the latest of whom, Mounissa Chodieva, has recently joined their galaxy of companies.

Singapore, United States
Mintz's takeover of investigator Barber Mullan & Associates pulls rug from under competitors' feet

Investigations firm Barber Mullan & Associates, which is run by a small, mainly British team, used to do most of its business as a subcontractor for larger firms, which are now concerned about the loss of this valuable support.

France, Ukraine
War in Ukraine: Ukrainian delegation to meet with French representatives to discuss arms supplies

France is maintaining its links with Ukraine, while trying to tread a fine line between providing military and logistics support for Ukraine in cooperation with the allies and, at the same time, preparing itself for life in a war economy and developing its own strategic autonomy.

North Korea, Russia
Moscow to back North Korea's upcoming missile tests at the UN

Based on their own observations and diplomatic contacts with Pyongyang, the Russian intelligence services expect North Korea to test an inter-continental ballistic missile before 20 September and possibly carry out a nuclear test subsequently in response to a recent South Korean-US military exercise.

Azerbaijan, Israel
Prosol enlists Israeli experts to boost Azerbaijani cyber training

Azerbaijan's small cyber sector has brought in Israeli experts to make up for the deficit in its own capacities. Local integrator Prosol, which is in the process of building up its own product range, is leading private sector initiatives in this area.

Spotlight | Europe, Russia
Baltic traders ensuring continued export of industrial equipment to Russia

While Lithuania's political class strongly condemns Moscow and is pushing for tough sanctions on the country, the Baltic state is still a hub for shipments of Western European machinery and electrical equipment to Russia. These exports are often camouflaged under a Kazakh flag.

Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey
Arms export ban leaves KazEngineering caught in the middle

The Kazakh government's decision to suspend its military exports, announced with no official explanation, has cast a shadow over the activities of the state-owned defence conglomerate Kazakhstan Engineering.

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh sets its sights on UNESCO's top job

Determined to become a world tourist destination by promoting its history, Saudi Arabia is rolling out a discreet influence strategy. After having laid its first groundwork, Riyadh is now working to secure the leadership of UNESCO.