Who is the Head of Merryweather Security Consulting?
As an avid GTA fan and gaming content creator, I get asked a lot of questions about the secrets and backstories behind the games I love. One that comes up frequently is: who exactly is the head of Merryweather Security Consulting? As one of the most powerful private military corporations in the GTA Universe, Merryweather has an intriguing history tied to its founder and CEO Don Percival.
The Ex-Navy SEAL Behind a Private Army
Merryweather stands out as a formidable antagonist across GTA V and GTA Online with its reckless use of deadly force. However, it‘s easy to forget the driven military mastermind who built this contractor army.
Don Percival brings his hardcore special forces background to lead Merryweather‘s global operations. His official background lists Navy SEAL training and the rank of Lieutenant General before resigning his commission. For context, only one in five SEAL candidates actually complete the brutally demanding training. Percival has all the mental and physical credentials needed to produce elite security operators.
After organizing a successful coup of a small African country, Percival established Merryweather in 2003 as its CEO. His coup funded the early beginnings of what would become a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
The company‘s first contracts centered around overseas security for reconstruction efforts across the Middle East. But Percival set his sights on more ambitious growth.
Corporate Leader, Military Strategist
In 2010, Don Percival took Merryweather Security public, listing it on Liberty City‘s BAWSAQ exchange. The move gave Percival access to capital markets, allowing significant domestic expansion.
Merryweather boasted over $10 billion in government contracts in 2013 alone. Percival leads over 20,000 employees with thousands of military vehicles and weapons at their disposal. All of this firepower makes Merryweather larger than some nation-state armies.
| Year | Merryweather Revenue | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $18 million | 150 contractors |
| 2010 | $1.2 billion | 3,000+ |
| 2013 | $12 billion | 20,000+ |
His corporate leadership delivered huge profits to investors. But Percival also provided a personal touch in Merryweather‘s field operations.
Highly-publicized raids saw Percival coordinating attacks himself to secure sensitive objectives. His strategic mind and combat ability proved vital in the riskiest contractor assignments.
These operations cemented Merryweather’s dominance in the world of private military services. But constant violence also fueled public backlash against the company‘s aggressive tactics.
Controversies and Blowback
CEO Don Percival brought ruthlessness to achieving contracts, often overlooking casualties and collateral damage. Merryweather frequently used lethal force, even when facing unarmed targets.
In 2013, the FIB discovered Merryweather operatives had authorized shoot-to-kill orders on numerous targets without due process. This includes the protagonist Michael, who you spend much of GTA V controlling.
Their shadowy targeting of a suburban father sparked major controversy. stocks plunged over 35%, outraging investors. Percival escaped indictment but faced immense pressure to change course.
Since 2013, Merryweather has tried re-branding itself as a more ethical institution. But its sordid reputation persists, thanks to the past bloodshed ordered by its longtime leader Don Percival in pursuit of power and profits.
Final Thoughts
Merryweather Security CEO Don Percival represents everything about the company‘s founding and culture – militarism, opportunism, and violence. His ambition built Merryweather into a global force while often skirting laws and human rights in the process.
In the world of Grand Theft Auto‘s dark satire, Merryweather and Percival‘s extremism stands out as an especially terrifying example of unchecked private power. It serves as a parody of real-world "military-industrial" contractors and the danger of privatizing state security powers.
And that wraps up this deep dive into the exceptional figure behind GTA‘s most dangerous PMC – Don Percival, Navy SEAL, coup plotter, and Merryweather commander-in-chief! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
