Holtium, a new security and risk analytics firm co-founded by industry veterans Andres Paz Larach and Francisco Velazquez, has launched with the aim of repositioning corporate security from a static cost center to a strategic business driver. The Miami-based firm seeks to bridge the gap between security operations and strategic business goals, enabling organizations to transform risk into a competitive advantage and make enterprise-grade security more accessible.
Traditional security approaches face challenges amidst rising complexity, rapid technological shifts, budget pressures, and emerging uninsurable risks. Businesses often struggle to identify areas of overexposure, overspending, or underinvestment in security. “We founded Holtium to help business leaders cut through the complexity of an ever-changing security landscape,” stated Andres Paz Larach, Holtium’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Our mission is to help organizations grow, evolve, and operate with confidence by making security accessible, practical, and aligned with business performance.”
Holtium’s approach centers on a proprietary methodology that integrates scientific rigor, financial logic, and strategic foresight. By applying systems-level thinking and data-driven models, the firm assists organizations in anticipating and adapting to security challenges, supporting more informed decision-making in volatile environments.
The firm is designed for businesses managing growth, change, or complexity, combining strategic insights with practical execution. Its team comprises professionals with extensive experience in corporate security, drawing from diverse fields including aerospace engineering, business strategy, insurance, special operations, and data science, to align security with business priorities and drive measurable value.
Andres Paz Larach, Co-Founder and CEO, previously served as Executive Vice President at Pinkerton, a global corporate risk management firm. In this role, he oversaw operations across North America, Latin America, and Europe, leading market turnarounds, scaling business units, and launching AI-powered products. His earlier experience includes advising Fortune 500 clients on risk during M&A execution at PwC and working in the property and casualty insurance sector. Mr. Paz Larach holds an MSc in Enterprise Risk Management from NYU and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Francisco Velazquez, Co-Founder and COO, also held a senior leadership position at Pinkerton as Senior Vice President. There, he led the Global IT Team and directed Service Delivery Operations for Protection, Investigations, and Consulting. He spearheaded digital transformation initiatives, including integrating AI into core workflows and reimagining operational processes. Prior to Pinkerton, Mr. Velazquez founded a consulting firm in Mexico supporting startups expanding into the U.S., served as a lead analyst in Investor Relations, and spent five years as a faculty professor and researcher in Mechanics and Wind Energy. He holds a bachelor’s degree and an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from Seville University in Spain, and an MBA from IPADE Business School in Mexico.
