New risk management major offers ‘one-stop’ shop

In a move designed to
add muscle and diversity
to its risk management
offering, November 1 saw
the merger of Combined
Private Investigations and
Leopard to create CPI Risk
Management Solutions.
“There are strategic
advantages for our
collective clients,” says
director Roy Robertson,
“with the merged entity
providing intelligencedriven
solutions through
CPI and technologydriven
solutions through
Leopard. This in addition
to an improved BEE
scorecard rating, stronger
financial muscle as well as
rationalised infrastructure.”
CPI was founded
by Robertson in
2003, focusing on
the investigation and
prevention of the theft of
copper and non-ferrous
metals. “Since then it
has grown into a BEE
compliant company with
partner Tshepo Malakoane
a director,” says Robertson.
It currently employs
more than 550 staff
members with branches
across South Africa. Its
fleet comprises more than
100 vehicles with its own
fully equipped police-type
helicopter.
According to Robertson,
the company has achieved
a 90% conviction rate of
copper thieves, overseeing
all court cases as a
watching brief.
Leopard was established
last year as a separate
entity under the CPI banner
to focus on transit risk
management.
“CPI has in the past
provided hijack recovery
and air and ground support
services to Leopard,”
Leopard’s Tiaan Smith told
FTW.
“The merger was
therefore a logical
development given the
synergy between the two
companies,” he said.
“We will still function
as a business unit within
CPI, operating as Risk
Management Solutions.”
Leopard has developed
its own container tracking
lock devices which have
achieved significant
success in the containerised
cargo market, says Smith.
The new company
has a national network
comprising nine offices
and will be targeting
shippers, hauliers and
the freight forwarding
community, offering what
is effectively a ‘one-stop
risk management shop’.