The security industry on the move
At the 58th Annual General Meeting of the Federal Association of the Security Industry (BDSW) in Berlin in May 2025, the association initiated a groundbreaking change in leadership. After more than a decade, President Gregor Lehnert stepped down, while Werner Landstorfer was elected as the new president with 86 percent of the votes. At the same time, the members elected Cornelius Toussaint, managing partner of the Essen-based CONDOR Group, as Vice President. Toussaint’s appointment was met with great approval by the members and is seen as a clear commitment by the BDSW to greater involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises and to actively shaping digitalisation and technologisation in the private security industry.
Toussaint combines many years of industry experience with a strong commitment to innovation. In his inaugural speech, he emphasised: ‘As a representative of small and medium-sized enterprises, I stand equally for innovation, continuity and sustainability in our industry.’ This attitude is also reflected in his parallel role as chairman of the BDSW technical committees for drones and rail. The association is thus relying on specialised working groups to systematically advance unmanned systems, cyber security and automated surveillance solutions.
The CONDOR Group, family-owned since 1978 and now active with around 900 employees at 15 locations, is a pioneer in many areas: It is prequalified nationwide for securing Deutsche Bahn AG railway construction sites, operates a VdS-approved emergency call and service control centre in Essen with over 6,000 connected alarm, GPS and video customers, and provides aviation security at several German airports. It also has a strong position in the UAV technology sector: from pilot training and flight services to the sale of hardware and software, CONDOR offers 24/7 security drones and VTOL systems for inspection and surveillance.
With Toussaint’s election to the executive committee and the generational change at the top, the BDSW is reaffirming its strategic vision: the security industry is consistently facing the challenges of Industry 4.0, the increasing complexity of critical infrastructures and growing cyber risks. In doing so, the association remains true to its SME roots, while at the same time providing clear impetus for technical innovation and sustainable developments – for the protection of people, goods and sensitive infrastructure.
