What’s coming next? The key government contracting leaders aren’t just asking the question, they’re shaping the conversation. In WashingtonExec’s inaugural list of Top 30 Executives to Watch, we turn the spotlight on industry leaders who are positioning their companies for greater growth and relevance ahead. Selected by industry colleagues, these leaders hail from a diverse range of companies, where they’re fueling new ways of thinking and responding to the many challenges faced by their government customers. From cybersecurity to national defense, healthcare IT to big data, the needs will only grow as we settle into this Presidential election year and beyond. Throughout this alphabetized list, we’re placing our bets that these industry leaders will continue to drive value and exceed expectations across all levels of government.
Top 30 Execs to Watch Spotlight:
Damian Perl has turned a one-man company into a global enterprise – and positioned himself as one of the world’s most well-connected personal security executives along the way. As founder of Global Strategies Group, Perl has grown his U.K.-based company into a leading investor and provider of integrated security and defense technology. Among its key investments, the company backed Global Defense Technology & Systems Inc. (GTEC), now known as Sotera Defense Solutions, guiding several acquisitions and its initial public offering, before selling it to a private equity firm in 2011.
Then something unexpected happened: Silence. In 2011 and 2012, Global Strategies Group took a step back from the U.S. government market. Waiting out the market proved to be a charm. In 2013, the firm reemerged, and established Global Defense & National Security Systems (GDEF), a public company formed to acquire operating businesses in the U.S. defense and national security sector.
Reason to watch: Now Perl is eyeing his next move — As chairman of GDEF, Perl helped guide the recent purchase of Reston, Va.-based contractor STG, in November 2015, for $165.5 million. Will Perl repeat his Sotera success? Our bet’s on STG – and more smart acquisitions ahead – under Perl’s GDEF chairmanship.
Read the full top 30 list on WashingtonExec.com.
