Simon Wagstaff BEM MIExpE
CEO, ASA Group Holdings Limited
Simon has lived and worked in Asia since 1989. He retired from the British Army in 1993 as a Senior Rank Bomb Disposal Engineer after 18 years of service. Much of his army tenure was with the elite Commando Forces, and he also has more than 3,000 parachute jumps to his credit. Simon is a veteran of the Falklands War, and he served seven tours of active duty, including covert operations, in Northern Ireland. He also served several years on active counter-terrorist duty in Europe and was awarded the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service.
After retiring from the army in 1993 he joined Guardforce Group in Hong Kong as Manager – Corporate Security, which involved carrying out detailed security audits and technical surveys on all Guardforce’s security operations including banks, airports, seaports, manufacturing etc. in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
He went on to launch a new aviation security & manpower business for the Israeli aviation security specialist ICTS Asia Pacific, which was owned by the Guardforce Group, as Managing Director in the Philippines and managed all security services in Manila Airport (an FAA “extraordinary risk” airport) for both United and Northwest Airlines. He also managed the complete security master plan for Clark International Airport and Clark Special Economic Zone after conversion from Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines. This new business in the Philippines grew into a concern of six companies with more than 3,000 personnel within five years.
Simon founded the ASA Group in Manila in 1999, overseeing and expanding the group to today’s multi-national operations with offices in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, Vietnam, S. Korea, UK, and USA, and operations in over 90 countries.
ASA Group provides unique travel and security services to support numerous economic sectors and some of the world’s most famous individuals. Clients range from energy, banking, insurance, gaming, technology, manufacturing, retail and travel to high-profile executives, entertainers, sports stars, heads of state, dignitaries and diplomats. ASA’s comprehensive travel and event management services can be customized to meet their needs for safe, enjoyable and productive trips. ASA maintains the highest standards by remaining on the cutting edge with a spectrum of superior, personalized services, and has been ISBAH, ISBAO and TRACE certified, as well as being members of NBAA, EBAA, AsBAA and ASIS. ASA has also been Wyvern and Argus registered, internationally recognized as the gold standard for private jet charter brokers.
ASA provides corporate security consulting, technical surveys and investigations to numerous blue chip companies, and has operated across the globe, on every continent, in almost 100 countries.
ASA has also consulted to several UK and USA-based oil and drilling companies operating in the Asian region and elsewhere, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt and Turkey.
With some 50 years in the military and security arena, the last 35 years of which have been in Asia, Simon is one of very few people with such a broad range, and depth, of experience in the AP Region.
Simon now lives in Hua Hin, Thailand, with his family, frequently traveling throughout the world on business development and consulting projects.
