OVAG Limited - Team Profiles
John Burrell (Managing Director)
has over 40 years' experience of fraud investigations, criminal enquiries and large-scale security operations in both the police service and the private sector. A specialist in undercover and surveillance operations, he pioneered the use of these techniques in combating commercial fraud and counterfeiting. As Managing Director of Chancery Consultants Ltd from 1981 to 1998, Group Managing Director of Maxima Group plc from 1998 to 2002, and since establishing OVAG Limited, he has led a series of successful high-profile investigations related to fraud, corporate contests, and the recovery of assets. He has pursued long-term assignments for major corporate and governmental clients in the fields of security, investigation and training. He has routinely liaised at senior level with major police forces throughout the UK and internationally on cross-border investigations.
Michael Oatley CMG OBE (Director)
is a former senior MI6 officer who was responsible for British intelligence activity in the Middle East, in Europe, and against terrorism. He was subsequently a Managing Director of Kroll Associates and Managing Director, later Chairman, of the Ciex Group.
John Baldwin (Director)
was a Metropolitan Police officer for 30 years, serving in various specialist areas including the Criminal Intelligence Branch at New Scotland Yard. He was involved in the investigation of high-profile crimes including kidnap, blackmail and extortion, counterfeit currency, armed robbery, drugs and vice. He is a specialist in covert photography and surveillance techniques and applied these skills while a Director of Chancery Consultants from 1986 to 1998, then at Maxima Group plc until joining OVAG Ltd in 2002.
Ned Pullin (Director – Operations)
was a detective with the City of London Police for 30 years and has extensive experience of investigating large-scale and complex frauds and conspiracies in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. He served within the Fraud Squad for six years and was also responsible for a series of undercover police operations which attracted a total of nine commendations from the Commissioner and trial judges. He has particular expertise in detecting conspiracies to defraud credit card companies and clearing banks, payroll fraud and counterfeiting. On retirement from the police service he entered the private sector as a Senior Consultant with Maxima Group plc and then formed part of the founding team of OVAG Limited.
Paul Johnson QPM (Director - Northern Operations)
was formerly one of the UK's most senior detectives and now heads OVAG Limited's North of England Regional Office located in Wakefield. He is a former Commander of the North East Regional Crime Squad and has many years' experience of managing large-scale enquiries into all types of serious crime from murder and armed robbery to high-volume theft and fraud. He has a wide knowledge of all forms of investigative techniques and has worked closely with government departments and law enforcement agencies in the UK and abroad on the development of strategies to combat organised crime. Since retirement he has advised major corporations on crime prevention systems, product contamination, kidnap, extortion and physical security, and has pursued a wide range of investigations into commercial crime in Britain and elsewhere.
Malcolm Hebron (Project Manager)
is a proven investigator with almost 40 years experience. Formerly a senior detective serving 31 years in the UK police service, latterly as an Area Commander on the National Crime Squad with responsibility for combating organised crime groups at national and international level. He has many years experience of managing large scale investigations of serious crime ranging through drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnap, murder and terrorism. During his police career he was seconded to the Royal Hong Kong Police for 2 years and served as a Divisional Commander and as Head of Intelligence for the Kowloon Region. He has particular expertise organising and managing covert operations. Since leaving the police service he has worked in the private sector on behalf of Corporate organisations and Governments investigating fraud, money laundering and corruption cases as well as supporting legal teams in litigation.
Alix Soame (Analyst)
has 9 years experience working as an analyst in a variety of law enforcement and private sector environments. She is a specialist in the National Intelligence Model and has spent the last three years working as a consultant with the National Policing Improvement Agency, providing onsite support to police forces across the country. She is a qualified Intelligence Analyst, Intelligence Manager, PRINCE 2 practitioner and police trainer.
Zino Djebbar (Senior Consultant – Due Diligence)
has over 18 years experience in Business Information and Due Diligence enquiries in both the Middle East and the Arab world in general. Formerly a founding member and Managing Director of Mega Company Services, he has worked on numerous assignments in the region and around the world. He brings a wealth of experience to Ovag. Zino is trilingual with a strong command, both written and spoken, of English, French and Arabic.
Geoffrey N Sloan (Consultant)
Geoff Sloan has worked in the insurance and reinsurance industry for thirty four years. He has handled business and travelled extensively in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, South America and the USA. Specialising in marine, energy and mining, he was Managing Director of one of the major Lloyds Broking House’s Marine and Energy Divisions. In the late 90’s he founded Sloan Mason (North America) Ltd which is now firmly established as a wholesale broker in the American Market. This business was relocated to the USA in 2004. Geoff brings to OVAG experience of the insurance and reinsurance workings of the London and foreign markets.
Geoff Terry (Consultant)
is an internationally recognised expert in the investigation of fraud and computer crime and, as a senior police officer, was for several years Head of the Hampshire Constabulary's Fraud Squad. After leaving the police service, he joined Ovag AG Switzerland, for whom he has carried out projects in Ghana and South Africa.
Richard Browne
is a former Head of Anti-Smuggling and Money Laundering Operations, HM Customs and Excise, commanding over 800 staff; Head of the Co-ordinating Centre for Criminal Intelligence and Drugs in Gibraltar and Managing Director of Maxima Group plc. In his earlier career he led the HM Customs & Excise branch responsible for the investigation of VAT fraud. He is an expert on revenue control and anti-money laundering systems and has recently been engaged in a project for the EU in Eastern Europe. His previous projects were for the United Nations (South Asia), conducting fieldwork in Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, to assist SAARC member states in their fight against drug-trafficking and money laundering and for the Government of Tanzania in their fight against trafficking of uncustomed imports.
André Nicolet
is a linguist with a background in military intelligence, serving for many years in West Africa before entering civilian life and completing his legal studies and the compulsory detective course in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 1969, he opened API - Agence Privée Internationale - and since 1976 has sat on numerous Civil and Criminal Tribunals as an expert witness. In 1993, he was appointed Head of Operational Security by Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. In September 2002 he retired from the bank and became an advisor to OVAG Limited.
Ian Hoskins (Consultant)
Ian served in various departments of the Metropolitan Police Special Branch, both at New Scotland Yard and at Gatwick Airport, finally specialising in Middle East matters. He was later responsible for the security of a prominent Middle East family before becoming Director, Security, for R J Reynolds Tobacco International (now Japan Tobacco International) with global responsibility for the security of the company’s personnel, premises, products and proprietary information. In recent years he has assisted Chancery Consultants Limited, Maxima Group Plc and OVAG Limited, notably on the physical, technical and procedural security of new and vulnerable installations, either for foreign governments or non-governmental organisations.
David Simpson (Consultant)
David has an economics degree from the London School of Economics, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and sits on the boards of a number of companies, professional associations and charities. He has extensive commercial experience of operational review, executive reporting systems, corporate measurement criteria and business processes. He brings to the company his strategic vision, planning, and executive skills. Working closely with experienced fraud investigators, David has provided an extra dimension to OVAG's operations.
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