Director Of International Sales and CEO of MG Suber LLC
Robert has spent decades assisting government, law-enforcement and defence organisations with the acquisition of equipment and services. His considerable technical expertise encompasses a diverse array of industry products. Robert’s extensive knowledge of compliance standards, contractual practices and business law allows our clients to successfully navigate international commerce in a highly regulated industry. Robert has served as a consultant to numerous international companies in the security sector, in the oil and mining industries, including humanitarian demining projects, as well as invasive species eradication programs. He was a founding member of the U.S. Ambassador’s Business Advisory Council in Ecuador, and is an associate of a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm. He has twice published work on Ecuadorean mining law and holds a United States Patent for a firearms identification tag.
Director of Compliance & US Partner Operations
At Candy Group, Adeline Badillo is the Americas Director of Operations based in South Carolina. With over a decade in the defense industry, Adeline is a specialist on foreign trade policy, an expert on export operations & logistics management, and a leader in compliance and risk management. Adeline has many years of experience in procurement, subcontract specifications, and negotiation.
Adeline oversees these operations in the Americas, and other countries, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with the Department of State, Department of Commerce, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Adeline supports the growth and development of Candy Group by providing operational excellence, strategic guidance, and risk mitigation. She leverages her previous experience in operations, marketing, sales, and managing multi-million dollar businesses to enhance customer service, profitability, and innovation.
Logistics & Supply Chain Advisor
Having spent 10 years working as Candy’s director of operations, George is now providing us bespoke expertise whilst expanding his network. George has worked in logistics and operations since he left the British Army in 1996. His wealth of experience includes FMS and International Procurement, Risk Mitigation and Business Development on 4 continents. George has delivered complex Logistics Management of government procurement projects to and from austere environments. He has expansive first-hand knowledge working in the Former Soviet Union for World Bank and UN projects, SE Asia (including 3 years as the Senior Logistics officer for the UN in Afghanistan running field operations for the parliamentary and presidential elections), India (supporting the EU public diplomacy program) and in the Middle East / North Africa. George has worked with and for the UN, WB, NATO, and counter-terror teams through US primes.
Chairman
James has acted as a strategic advisor and trusted counsellor to senior executives throughout the world. With over 35 years of international experience, he has served in numerous leadership and executive positions within both the public and private sectors. Jim has provided a wide array of global leadership, executive and senior management professional services. Jim previously served as executive director for the American-Kuwaiti Alliance, providing all elements of the leadership and management of the organization. He was also the senior resident Country Director in Iraq for a large international NGO responsible for providing organizational leadership and the implementation of democratic development programs during the highly volatile period from 2004 to 2006.
Jim served as chief of staff to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and International Trade of Canada and the Minister of Science and Technology, as well as, executive assistant to the Canadian Ambassador for International Security and Arms Control, giving him extensive public and political experience at senior levels in the Canadian Government.
Jim is active in a number of organizations including those focused on international security and stability operations. He is also a past senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and continues to sit on numerous boards and advisory councils including as Vice-Chair of the International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA), Hostage US and the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC).
Jim has a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School (U.S.); a Master in Arts (International Security and Conflict) and a Bachelor of Arts (Law and Political Science) from Canada.
Founder & CEO
Jonathan commenced his career on the Baltic Exchange, the shipping market based in the City Of London, learning the ropes with international traders and global shipping companies and becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.
Having created the Candy Group as a maritime NVOCC, Jonathan then started an airline to support stability operations in Africa and developed into providing clients with bespoke final mile supply chain logistics and operations planning in challenging environments globally. Often the first commercial company into post conflict and then more traditional locations, the Candy Group developed a reputation as a reliable solution provider with many different local stakeholders.
Jonathan has overseen the evolution of the company from a purely operational provider in hazardous locations to having a dual role; advising clients on creating partnerships and working in new markets, encouraging innovative new suppliers and designing solutions, whilst Candy also maintains the capability to deliver success and equip where required.
Jonathan has brought his hands-on technical experience, providing operational and business management support to a variety of international organisations such as the United Nations and diverse commercial clients in security, peacekeeping, humanitarian and environmental markets. In addition, by leveraging the interconnectivity of the Candy Group’s global activities and relationships he has also been able to identify and creatively enhance our clients business development opportunities and new technology.
Depending on the requirement we source equipment from with a range of supplier relationships across different international marketplaces.
Formal distributor agreements with high quality branded suppliers enable us to ensure first class support, highly competitive pricing and the security that comes from purchasing from an OEM. Not only are the brands we represent market leaders but technologically proven and carry original international warranties.
However, other projects and customers have equipment requirements that are primarily driven by different criteria. For example “best fit” products that are similar in design but not necessarily required to match a specific standard or the warranty levels of a better known brand, or simply that are able to meet a delivery date that cannot be matched by other manufacturers can also be supplied.
Candy is able to draw upon its own inhouse experience, delivering projects for clients, acting as responsible lead supplier in the field or as a prime contractor. Our proven capability has enabled us to draw together and work across different disciplines. We have operated globally, in high threat and post conflict environments. We can either enhance a client’s management staff or provide a standalone specialist team creating working partnerships and managing suppliers in the field
We are aware of contractual “flow down” complexities and ensure accountability. We have designed and implemented risk mitigation to create project continuity by managing threat environments.
Candy offers a balanced approach to project implementation, drawing upon our technical knowledge, experience, proven network and access to a range of market leading technology embodied in products and solutions.
We recognise the difference between guiding our clients who are after our subjective views based on experience and assessment and detailed process management based on operational and technical choices.
Candy helps its clients to formulate strategic business plans, including the identification of resources and skills needed for success, both during the project design stage and during contract management. Our expertise can be drawn upon at any stage of the project cycle. We can:
