Stephan Crétier​

Stephan Crétier is an entrepreneur, global CEO, investor and philanthropist. Named Entrepreneur of the Decade by Profit Magazine in 2011 as one of eleven remarkable Canadian CEOs, he is the CEO of Crisis24 and the founder, chairman, president and CEO of GardaWorld, an entrepreneurial-driven corporation that builds global champions in security services, AI-enabled security technologies, integrated risk-management and cash automation solutions, employing more than 132,000 dedicated professionals worldwide.

Stephan Crétier founded GardaWorld in 1995 with an investment of $25,000 from a second mortgage on his house and grew it to become one of the largest global security providers. GardaWorld has established itself as a global and successful investment platform in the security industry by building independent, robust operating businesses. These businesses are designed to deliver strong financial performance, offer large runways for growth, and drive innovation and evolution within the industry.

In late 2024, with the support of a group of sophisticated investors, he led the largest private buyout in Canadian history, and one of the biggest private equity deals globally, valuing GardaWorld at $14 billion with Stéphan Crétier now owning 70% of the company alongside selected management.

In 2006, Stephan Crétier and his spouse, Stéphany Maillery, established the Stephan Crétier Foundation. Though global citizens residing in Dubai since 2010, they remain deeply connected to Canada. The foundation actively supports various non-profits and launched the BOLO Program in 2018 to enhance public safety awareness and help locate Canada’s most wanted fugitives. Among other initiatives, the foundation has supported the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, creating a wing featuring the museum’s permanent collection with a focus on world cultures. The foundation has also supported the Vimy Foundation in developing the Visitor Education Centre and The Peace Circle in Vimy’s Centennial Park in France to honor the life and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers at Vimy Ridge.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Mr. Crétier serves on the board of several organizations, including the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, a Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. In December 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to the community.