About Black Palm International
Black Palm International is a security, risk-management, and advisory firm operating at the intersection of protective intelligence, strategic planning, and disciplined execution. We support organizations in high-visibility, elevated-risk environments.
The Minds Behind the Mission
Leadership forged through experience, driven by precision.
William McGuire
President & Co-Founder
William McGuire is Co-founder and President of Black Palm International and a senior security executive with decades of experience across aviation security, emergency management, executive protection, and complex security operations.
Throughout his career, he has led large-scale security programs supporting airlines, airports, and high-visibility environments within complex regulatory and operational landscapes. His background includes aviation security operations, emergency preparedness, VIP and dignitary protection, and special-operations-informed security planning.
At Black Palm International, he provides executive leadership and strategic direction, guiding intelligence-led security advisory, risk assessment, and protective planning services for organizations operating in sensitive or high-exposure environments.
Neil O'Keeffe
Vice President & Co-Founder
Neil O’Keeffe is Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Black Palm International and a security and risk management executive with more than 24 years of experience across investigative, intelligence, and operational environments.
He served within the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau of the New York City Police Department in analytical and operational roles, including assignments in the Operations and Analysis Section and Criminal Intelligence Section. He later supervised the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Unit within the Counterterrorism Division, where his assignments also included managing the Department’s participation in the federally supported Securing the Cities Program. In a separate assignment, he supported security operations through the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative.
At Black Palm International, he provides executive leadership across security and risk advisory engagements, supporting clients operating in complex or sensitive organizational environments.
John Franchi
Vice President & Co-Founder
John Franchi is Vice President and Co-Founder of Black Palm International and a former intelligence and security executive with nearly three decades of experience at the Central Intelligence Agency leading intelligence operations, mitigating geopolitical risk, and supporting national security missions.
His background includes senior leadership roles across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, with expertise spanning transnational threats, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber-related issues. Throughout his career, he worked closely with senior government and private-sector leaders in complex operational environments requiring discretion, judgment, and strategic clarity.
At Black Palm International, he brings an operational and intelligence-led perspective to risk assessment, strategic advisory, and decision support for organizations navigating geopolitical, security, and operational risk.