Vincent Swardt
Co-Owner, Managing Director and Senior Multi-disciplinary Consultant
Vincent has over 15 years’ experience in investigative, risk and critical incident response consulting. He is the co-owner and managing director of Saraband Solutions and a retained Senior Crisis Response consultant for Unity Advisory Group. Vincent has also provided dedicated risk and investigative support to an international mining company with operations throughout Africa for the past 15 years.
Among the critical incidents he has worked are successfully resolved kidnap-for-ransom cases in hostile and challenging environments such as the DRC, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, several communicated threats and extortion cases in South Africa, alleged human rights abuses in remote Zambia, and alleged sexual abuse offences in Tanzania. In 2020 Vincent consulted on a short-term assignment (caretaker role) as the Regional Security Advisor (Southern Africa) for one of the largest global telecommunications companies in the world. This task included advising on the client’s security risk exposure at its main campus in Johannesburg, South Africa as well as coordinating a security contingency plan for their operations in Tanzania ahead of the 2020 national elections.
Vincent received certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) in 2014. The fraud cases that he has worked include asset misappropriation, vendor; insurance and accounting fraud as well as employee/vendor collusion and kickbacks. Other investigations have included IP Infringements, COBC violations, sexual harassment, and various forms of employee misconduct, among many others.
In 2020 Vincent was invited by the African Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (AfATAP) to present on the current situation of Kidnap-for-Ransom in Africa and some of the challenges he has faced working these cases. He has also presented on the role of the crisis response consultant in kidnap-for-ransom cases at several special risks insurance seminars. In November 2020, an article authored by Vincent titled "Occupational Fraud Risk Management" was published in the ACFE South Africa's quarterly publication, Veritas Magazine (Issue 3 - November 2020 - http://online.mobissue.com/eory/whph/)
Jacqueline Cochrane
Co-Owner, Senior Vetting and Due Diligence Consultant
Jacqueline is an investigator and information sourcing specialist based in Pretoria, South Africa.
Her key role at Saraband initially included developing resources across the African continent with the focus on creating reliable and accurate networks for intelligence and information sourcing. She has since developed into an investigative resource as well and among others conducts gender sensitive investigations for Saraband, including investigations into sexual harassment and assault, the receipt and distribution of offensive electronic material, and the soliciting of sexual favors for jobs.
Jacqueline oversees all vetting projects undertaken which include ongoing customer, vendor and supplier vetting as well as the weekly pre-employment screening that Saraband does for a global mining company's operation in South Africa and in other African countries. She also conducts skip trace investigations for assest recovery, priocess serving, legal and financial matters, and missing persons.
Jacqueline holds a certificate in Forensic Investigations obtained from the HJN TRaining institution, and certification from Sasseta on a NQF Level 5 for Conducting Preliminary Investigations. She also holds a 3-year diploma in Human Resources Management obtained from the Damelin College in South Africa.
Associates, Partnerships and Consultants
Saraband Solutions has built up a network of local and globally recognised associates and consultants in amongst others the following fields:
- Investigations
- Training
- Risk and threat assessments
- Surveillance and undercover operations
- Polygraph examinations
- Handwriting analysis
- Pre-employment screening (national and global footprint)
- Computer forensics
- TCSM investigations
- Executive protection services
These partnerships have allowed Saraband Solutions to remain on the forefront of providing a high quality and driven service to our clients with a diverse set of skills on offer.
In June 2017 a global partner of Saraband Solutions published the following media release on their website:
LYON - FRANCE, 04/06/2017 – In the context of its expansion, CORPGUARD announces today the signing of a partnership agreement with Saraband Solutions, business intelligence, investigation and risk management specialist based in South Africa. This partnership will allow CORPGUARD to benefit from its expertise in Southern Africa and to rely on its operational capabilities. Saraband Solutions LTD will take advantage of CORPGUARD’s knowledge and network in West Africa, North Africa and Europe.
Memberships and Affiliations
ACFE – Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
AfATAP – African Association of Threat Assessment Professionals
CRIMSA – Criminological and Victimilogical Society of Southern Africa
WAD – World Association of Detectives
WAPI – World Association of Professional Investigators
PSIRA - Private Securty Industry Regulatory Authority
