Mission Protectas: Andréa Khatau

Who are you in a few words? 

My name is Andréa Khatau, I am 34 years old and hold both Swiss and Swedish nationalities, with Indian roots.

I have been passionate about horse riding for over 25 years and have had the opportunity to represent Switzerland in competitions, win a Swiss Champion title, and participate in two European Championships.

This discipline has instilled in me strong values such as discipline, perseverance, and commitment, which still guide me today in my professional life. 

What motivated you to work at Protectas? 

I chose to join Protectas because of its entrepreneurial spirit. I found an open, dynamic, and solution-oriented environment that allows me to carry out my responsibilities with autonomy and to develop concrete solutions to the company’s needs.

It is a setting where initiative is encouraged and where you can truly make an impact. 

Can you tell us about your beginnings at Protectas? 

I joined Protectas about six months ago as Head of Procurement for the Protectas Group in Switzerland, and my start has been very encouraging.

I quickly had the opportunity to collaborate with competent, committed, and supportive colleagues. Their support played a key role in my onboarding, especially as the position is newly created. This positive dynamic allowed me to integrate quickly and contribute with confidence to the first projects. 

Alongside my responsibilities in Switzerland, I also support Protectas in Italy and Securitas in Austria, which further enriches the international dimension of my role.

What are you responsible for now? 

I am responsible for the supply chain for the Protectas Group in Switzerland, covering both procurement and logistics. As this is a newly created role, my first mission was to gain a clear understanding of the existing resources, activities, and processes. 

My role now is to define, implement, and lead a supply chain strategy that supports the Group’s operational and strategic objectives. This includes economic performance, the quality of services and products, as well as compliance with key standards such as CSR, innovation, compliance, and risk management. 

The objective is to build an agile and sustainable supply chain fully aligned with the ambitions of the Protectas Group in Switzerland, as well as those of the Securitas AB Group. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

What I particularly appreciate in my role are the rich and diverse human interactions. I enjoy building and maintaining strong collaborative relationships, whether with my team, internal colleagues, or external partners.

Working together toward ambitious goals and seeing how this collective dynamic creates real added value for the Group is a daily source of motivation for me. 

It is this combination of collaboration, trust, and tangible impact that makes my job so stimulating. 

What is your biggest challenge and how do you handle it? 

My main challenge today is to bring together internal strengths and expertise across entities, regions, and departments in order to build a true national supply chain vision. 

To achieve this, my team works cross-functionally with the goal of bringing people together, engaging them, and fostering a constructive exchange among all those involved in procurement and logistics activities.

This collaborative approach allows us to develop synergies, gradually align practices, and strengthen overall efficiency. 

Which value resonates most with you and why? (Integrity, Vigilance, Helpfulness) 

If I had to choose just one, it would be helpfulness.

Supporting my colleagues, our clients, and all stakeholders within my area of responsibility is at the heart of the supply chain strategy we are building.

This value fully reflects my way of working: being available, facilitating, supporting, and helping to create an environment where everyone can move forward efficiently and with confidence. 

How do you experience being a woman in your job? 

I feel very comfortable as a woman in my profession.

I work in an environment where skills, commitment, and collaboration come first, and where everyone can find their place and contribute fully. 

Advice for women who want to work in security? 

When I joined Protectas in Switzerland, I was welcomed and supported by competent, committed, and helpful colleagues.

Working in such an enriching environment shows that the security sector offers great opportunities for women who wish to get involved.

It is a field where collaboration, diversity, and complementary profiles truly make a difference.