Stéphan Crétier
President & CEO
After an initial career as a professional baseball umpire in the U.S. for several years, Stephan Cretier came back to Canada in 1989 and joined a security firm where he increased sales from $4.8 million to $32 million in just 5 years. In 1995, he had a clear vision of how to develop a successful business in that sector, and he decided to found his own company with an initial investment of only $20,000. Stephan Cretier, an entrepreneur and visionary, propelled Garda among the top 15 international players in the security field and to the 3rd position worldwide in investigations 12 years after first establishing the company. Garda now protects North America's largest companies including Fortune 500, the Canadian and American governments as well as military bases. Because of his determination, his leadership and his business sense, Mr. Cretier implemented a spectacular growth strategy reaching $800 million in annual sales. On the stock market, shares worth $0.24 in 1999 have increased today to more than $20 with a market capitalisation of over $625 million. Stephan Cretier brought the company to new heights and its phenomenal growth earned him a place in the Profit 100 ranking for the past 6 years. He also received the title of Public corporation of 2006 granted by Quebec's Journal Les Affaires, the most extensive business publication in the province and awarded the title of Great Entrepreneur of 2005 by Perform. In fact, the success achieved by this 43-year entrepreneur is applauded throughout the business world. He has developed a well-reputed and successful company and, in only 12 years, Garda has grown to become one of the most trusted consulting, investigation and security firms in the world operating in a most competitive market. Being a true visionary, he takes risks, seizes opportunities within the security field and motivates the people around him to outdo themselves.