Gov. Rick Scott confirmed Wednesday that a security and cash logistics company is moving its U.S. headquarters to Florida, bringing 100 jobs to the state with an average annual wage of more than $65,000.
The relocation, which had been announced in press reports back in February, involves Montreal-based Garda World Security Services. The company's U.S. office will move from Pasadena, Calif., to Boca Raton.
Sthan Crier, Garda's president and CEO, said he was "excited to move our U.S. headquarters to Boca Raton, which will provide us the ability to expand in the United States."
With more than 50,000 employees in North America, Mexico, Europe and the Mideast, the 15-year-old company provides an array of services, ranging from physical security and pre-employment screening to "cash logistics" through armored cars.
Garda's website says the company's Consulting & Investigation group helps organizations "gather business intelligence to make more informed business decisions prior to business activities, such as mergers and acquisitions or joint ventures, as well as investigate incidents of unethical or illegal behavior."
Posting $1.2 billion in annual revenue, Garda is the sixth largest security and logistics company in the world, and ranks second behind Brinks in cash logistics in North America after entering the U.S. market six years ago.
Cretier said he was "impressed with the vibrant business climate Florida is seeking to create" and appreciated the attention his company received from Scott, who contacted Garda in January.
"Governor Scott called on his fifth day on the job," Cretier related. "I do a lot of sales as a CEO, and I was very impressed."
Garda reportedly was considering a move to Illinois or Delaware at the time. Those states, as well as California, have significantly higher corporate tax rates than Florida.
Scott, who has been in Canada since Monday, said he plans to meet with 120 companies to pitch economic opportunity in Florida.
"We have the benefit of adding jobs while unemployment is up in the United States. We're capturing the attention of business worldwide," he said at a joint news conference with Cretier in Montreal.
Scott called Garda's move a "win-win for Quebec and Florida," and thanked the Palm Beach County Business Development Board for its work in landing the company.
State and local officials agreed to provide Garda with $1 million in incentives. In exchange, Garda would hire 100 people by the end of 2013 at an average salary of $65,769.
--
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
