Warden Consulting

Warden Consulting & Planet Chopper

 Planet Chopper founder Mark Van Leeuwarden has led an interesting life, he began working as an undercover Police Officer at the age of 20. During that deployment he mixed with some of Auckland’s toughest criminals, acting as β€œfence” (someone that knowingly purchases stolen property and then resells the items to others). His deployment would eventually end in grim circumstances: Mark was at a bar with his running mate when he murdered his girlfriend. This event terminated the operation with Mark having to testify against more than 50 defendants. 

 After his 9 month deployment Mark went on to become a detective at the age of 23. He continued on in the Police before spending some time in Thailand, eventually deciding to study law in Christchurch. After completing his degree with honours Mark decided to set up a boutique investigation company, much to the dismay of his lecturers who believed that investigation was a terrible industry to specialize in. But Mark had faith in his experiences in the Police and the new knowledge he had gained through his degree.

Mark would go on to found Warden Consulting in 1995, the mission was to blend investigation and law in the absence of an overarching global fraud investigation body, and to provide the world’s most effective covert operations. That dream would come to fruition, but first Warden Consulting had to establish itself as one of the premier private investigators in Auckland. Given Mark’s extensive and dynamic experience in the Police and his legal knowledge the company would develop rapidly eventually becoming one of the most sought after private investigation companies in New Zealand.

 

Fraud Investigation and Covert Operations

Mark’s biggest case came in the form of a $100m boiler room fraud involving the Russian Mafia. The funds were lost as a result of a Russian organised crime fraud operation based in New York. The operation was a traditional “boiler room” in which high net worth individuals from around the world were targeted to invest with the promise of high returns and went by the name of First Equity Enterprises Inc. 

 

Mark would represent more than 300 clients from over 10 countries, recovering more than $10m of stolen funds. Mark would win many more high-profile cases, eventually recording more than $70m and establishing himself as one the world’s top fraud investigators, going head-to-head with some of the most cunning fraudsters in the world. 

 

Warden eventually began to grow a security arm of the business too, employing more than 30 security officers across a range of locations in New Zealand. However it was the development of the undercover program that elevated the business once more. Warden has now deployed over 100 operations and established themselves as world leaders in covert operations, providing insights to both employee theft and business intelligence. 

 

Warden has since expanded to Mexico, USA and is looking to set up an office in Europe. We look forward to seeing where Warden will go next