Gillan McNay
Security Director
UAE
Gillan McNay is a Security Director at International SOS. He previously served within the British Army for 10 years, completing operational tours of Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, and Northern Ireland, focusing on long—and short-range covert surveillance. Initially, he was involved in active combat roles, and latterly, he trained and developed surveillance concepts and equipment for use in multiple operational environments for all Brigade Reconnaissance Force units and UK police and border forces.
After leaving the military 14 years ago, Gillan assumed senior operational roles with Pilgrims Group Limited, focusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Control Risks, focusing primarily on the Middle East and North / East Africa, supporting clients in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, and Mozambique. Notable highlights of his operational support to clients include the kidnapping of NBC’s Richard Engel in Syria and the immediate response to the 2021 IS attacks in Northern Mozambique, where Gillan was deployed on the ground to coordinate and support company personnel and clients.
After leaving the military 14 years ago, Gillan assumed senior operational roles with Pilgrims Group Limited, focusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Control Risks, focusing primarily on the Middle East and North / East Africa, supporting clients in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, and Mozambique. Notable highlights of his operational support to clients include the kidnapping of NBC’s Richard Engel in Syria and the immediate response to the 2021 IS attacks in Northern Mozambique, where Gillan was deployed on the ground to coordinate and support company personnel and clients.