Lars-Åke Severin, a native Swede, came to China to run a short- term project for a client. Severin, who is a former police officer in the Swedish Security Police Force and founder of the Close Protection Team for Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess of Sweden, was CEO for a Swedish security consultancy firm at the time. His time in China taught him something very important: to be successful, you need to have a deep understanding of two things that are closely related—the operational risks and the subtleties of the local business culture. He saw right away the need for a new kind of risk and security partner that possessed the unique expertise to navigate both.
About Us
Our Story & Values
Our Story
2005
2006
2009
2015
2020
Today
The idea became a reality when PSU became the first foreign- owned company in China to obtain a security consultancy license. Later that year, the company recruited its first employees, and soon PSU had a core group of highly qualified professionals — both local and foreign. The company soon received a large number of projects, enabling rapid growth.
We opened a second office in Shanghai, which proved to be a strategically significant decision. This expansion placed us at the heart of China’s commercial hub, enabling us to provide immediate, on-the- ground support to the growing number of global clients establishing their regional headquarters in the city.
PSU undertook a reform of its intelligence-gathering capabilities. This strategic enhancement, supported by a senior recruitment with vast experience from UK intelligence and law enforcement, transformed internal processes, significantly improved operational efficiency, and advanced our Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) methodologies. It further strengthened our ability to support complex risk management and investigative engagements.
During the global pandemic, PSU became a trusted pillar of support for international businesses operating in China’s rapidly evolving environment. We served as a primary source of ground-truth intelligence, delivering weekly briefings to the business community and maintaining a continuous on-the- ground presence while international travel was restricted. By enhancing remote oversight capabilities and effectively managing newly emerging and complex risks, PSU emerged from the period as a more resilient, agile, and versatile partner.
Since our founding, PSU has cemented its position as a leading risk and security consultancy in China. As the country’s risk landscape has evolved, so has our capabilities. We have consistently guided our global clients through this dynamic environment, building a reputation for delivering clear, actionable intelligence. Today, from our strategic bases in Beijing and Shanghai, we continue to deliver the critical on-the-ground insight that has been our hallmark since day one.
Values
Our organisation is built on four core values that guide every client partnership:
01
Professionalism
We deliver world-class expertise with meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to quality.
02
Integrity
We conduct our work ethically and transparently. The trust our clients place in us is our most valued asset.
03
Loyalty
We are fiercely dedicated to our clients’ success and work tirelessly to protect their interests as if they were our own.
04
Availability
We are responsive and ready to act when our clients need us most. In a crisis, you will have a direct line to our senior team.
Our mission
Our mission is to be the most trusted and effective risk and security partner for companies in China.
We leverage our experience, insight, and resources to provide the clarity and confidence our clients need to navigate challenging environments and protect their assets.