After nearly a decade as Kenny Benjamin’s right-hand man, Vinay Walia has decided to step down as Group Managing Director of the Guardsman Companies.

Walia played an instrumental role in transitioning the security company into a more technological outfit able to better deploy data and cutting-edge solutions.

Our Today also understands that after seventeen years with Guardsman, Andre McLean, director of Guardsman Group’s International Division also resigned. In 2022, he was appointed president of Beryllium Limited.

Four years ago, Walia was very much head of the executive team that decided to become a technology company, launching Beryllium in November 2021 followed by Guardsman Metaverse in December 2022.

Last year, Guardsman Cyber Intelligence (GCI) was launched and at that event, Walia said: “We have invested in software and hardware to provide a layer of protection and ensure that business-sensitive information and systems are secure at all times. Our team will work with businesses to develop customised security strategies including threat intelligence, risk assessments, access controls and encryption; identifying potential vulnerabilities for data breaches, phishing scams or malware attacks before they happen.”

Data breaches and scamming are on the rise in Jamaica and Walia seemed well placed to be at the vanguard of offering solutions and working with the government to combat cybercrime.

His decision to resign from Guardsman, a company he has long been associated with and whose executive chairman, Kenny Benjamin, on many occasions lauded his efforts, comes as a surprise. Given his experience and reputation, he has a lot to offer, particularly a transitioning company such as Guardsman. 

Only last month it was announced that Kenny Benjamin’s son, Nicholas who has worked at the company in different capacities has been appointed Deputy Executive Chairman of the Guardsman Group. Nicholas Benjamin is well-regarded both within the Guardsman Group and in the wider business community. 

The Guardsman Group was founded by Kenny Benjamin in 1977.

Over the years he built bit it into a leader in the field of security solutions and it now has operations in ten Caribbean countries. The Group has also added tourism and pesticide solutions to its portfolio. The Guardsman Group consists of 13 companies and employs over 8000 people.

Speaking on Nicholas Benjamin stepping up as Deputy Executive Chairman, Kenny Benjamin told Our Today, “Nicholas knows the business and has proven himself over the last sixteen years. He is a people person and you have to be in business. I am now in my seventies and it is time to slow down and hand the baton over. I will still be around and continue to make contributions when I can.

“The Guardsman Group is in expansion mode and will need younger people to lead the charge. We are in the digital age with AI technology set to change the way business is done and the way people live. Nicholas is up on all this new technology and how it will be utilised in our business.” 

Vinay Walia joined Guardsman Group as Financial Controller in 1998 before being promoted to Financial Director and co-managing director then went on to become group managing director.

His primary responsibilities as managing director included driving key strategic growth initiatives, providing financial leadership, overseeing the development of internal talent and guiding succession planning while ensuring compliance with government and industry regulations through corporate policies.

Prior to joining Guardsman Group, Walia was in audit and accounting first with A.F. Ferguson & Co ( in India) and later with KPMG Peat Marwick in Jamaica. He is a chartered certified accountant (ACCA) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree with honours from Delhi University.

Born and raised in India, he came to Jamaica in 1995 while on assignment with KPMG. Vinay is married with three children.  

Vinay Walia is chairman of the Sagicor Real Estate X Fund Limited.