ARTICLES

23 April 2009

Sky's the Limit: The ASA Story ASA Group founder and CEO Simon P. Wagstaff arrived in Thailand from Manila in 2001, and set up a one-man operation, Airground Services (Asia) Limited (ASA) in Bangkok’s Don Mueng Airport, on the back of his S5 Consulting executive security start up company. Informed by his British Army background and Hong Kong and Philippines commercial security experience, what started with just a few clients has now grown into an international business. Now, with a decade’s commercial experience under his belt, he has successfully built up one of the Asia Pacific region’s leading elite travel, security and aviation service companies, with offices in seven countries and operations in over 20 countries and 60 airports worldwide.

With a total of some 34 years experience in the security sector, the last 19 of which have been in Asia, Wagstaff is one of the region’s key players. Fresh from the recent opening of ASA’s new Los Angeles office, he explains his long-standing goal to take the company global.

‘The chair of any small business making the transition to a larger enterprise will know what I mean when I say that finding the right way for ASA to grow has taken real care and attention. As the company has grown, it has been increasingly established in the region and we have enjoyed significant numbers of long-term, repeat and referral clients. Ensuring we stay true to our core values has become my mantra: attention to detail, customer-oriented service driven by expectations and the anticipation of client requirements, and simply ensuring we are the best at what we do, where we do it. This is the main reason I think the company will easily ride the global recession, which anyway looks like it will just be a blip in the rapidly expanding private aviation sector here.’

The Group has seen a recent business downturn (some 10-20%) in the aviation sector as a result of the current global economics, but has actually reported overall growth particularly in its security sector. Wagstaff admits he keeps a close eye on factors such as fuel price volatility, to determine their impact on business. Growing demand for ASA’s services in the Asia Pacific region has even prompted the company to branch out into jet charter, sales, acquisition and even publishing.

Local expertise earned by living and working in Asia, including the Middle East, is what has enabled Wagstaff to build up such a solid company presence and reputation in this part of the world. His genuine love of the region is shared by most of ASA’s senior executives and also reflected in the fact that Wagstaff sits on the board of Cambodian anti-slavery and trafficking charity SISHA (South East Asia Investigations into Social and humanitarian Activities). As The ASA group grows, Wagstaff is clear about one thing – his personal and professional passion for the people and places of Asia will always remain.

This article is taken from Inbound Asia, Asia’s leading luxury travel and lifestyle magazine. For more information please visit www.inboundmag.com