Make better decisions through actionable insights
ZEKA CODE

Zeka Code is an Indian risk consultancy that specializes to combine insight, experience and intelligence to realise opportunities and risks, and advise businesses to mitigate through the complex threat matrix – that take shape in any form. Zeka Code was derived from the word ‘Zeka’ which means ‘Intelligence’. ‘Zeka’ also means ‘Investigator’ and ‘Care Taker’.

Ethos
Helping business ‘Make better decisions through actionable insights’ is what we stand for. We are capable of disclosing breadths and depths of personal, personally identifiable, and sensitive information, and we hold ourselves to a rigorous ethical standard to ethics of informational privacy and the ethos of confidentiality.

We work for
We believe that business models are built through human relationships. Hence, we are discerning about who we work with or for. And we will take work only if we are confident that we will provide value.

Zeka Code is an Indian risk consultancy that specializes to combine insight, experience and intelligence to realise opportunities and risks, and advise businesses to mitigate through the complex threat matrix – that take shape in any form. Zeka Code was derived from the word ‘Zeka’ which means ‘Intelligence’. ‘Zeka’ also means ‘Investigator’ and ‘Care Taker’.

Ethos
Helping business ‘Make better decisions through actionable insights’ is what we stand for. We are capable of disclosing breadths and depths of personal, personally identifiable, and sensitive information, and we hold ourselves to a rigorous ethical standard to ethics of informational privacy and the ethos of confidentiality.

We work for
We believe that business models are built through human relationships. Hence, we are discerning about who we work with or for. And we will take work only if we are confident that we will provide value.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The ever-evolving threat landscape for businesses can no more be addressed in the traditional siloed approach of risk management. No more can one approach issues like cybersecurity, geo political risks, climate change or pandemic individually. The interconnectedness of multiple threat landscapes – cyber security and technological risk, brand & reputation, physical security and geo political, regulatory and legal risks – needs to be addressed and narrowed down through a hybrid, proactive and holistic approach. With eyes and ears to the ground, our expert team of security professionals will guide you through specific areas of threats, exposures and vulnerabilities to protect your people, assets, property, products, operations and reputation.

CRISIS RESPONSE

Business disasters aren’t a matter of better contingency planning. Some bolts do come out of the blue. But we often fail to see an impending crisis that often lie all around us. We help you anticipate and avoid an impending crisis by enabling you to recognize and prioritize the threat, to mobilizing the resources required to stop the threat. We are also experienced and steadfast in helping you navigate through the bolts that come out of the blue.

Political and State risk

Do businesses control politics or does politics control business? It’s the same chicken and egg conundrum. But political decisions in most cases can significantly affect the profitability or the expected value of an economic action that businesses engage in. With our diverse team, we are adept to gather information on cities, districts or states across the country, understand the causes and sources of potential political risks, find solutions, offer recommendations and help businesses make informed decisions. Always better to have an experienced insider!

Due Diligence

Reputation is distinct from the actual character or behaviour of a person, firm or a company. It may be better or worse. It could be of substantial risk if the reputation of a person, firm or a company is more positive than what lies beneath. This is where we bring human intelligence to the core over technical intelligence. Whether it’s understanding the reputational credibility of an individual, firm or a company, or to understand the political and regulatory implications within the country across any sector, we will help you gather intelligence right from the ground through our well-established network of professionals. We would bring to the table views from a host of stakeholders including investors, customers, suppliers, employees, regulators, politicians, non-governmental organisations or communities as required to put together the credentials, reputation or viability of any individual, firm, company or a proposed project.

Investigations

Whether its corruption, fraud, accounting and financial reporting impropriety, a regulatory inquiry or a commercial dispute, or misconduct or work place harassment it is critical to address the issue in a time-bound manner and with sensitivity. Our investigation support includes gathering evidence, attending witness interviews and identifying undisclosed information.

Cyber and Digital

Threats from the cyberspace is an ever-evolving phenomena from Y2K to today’s ransomware threats that has increased by 52 per cent in 2022. To negate threats from the cyberspace, time, efforts and cost involved are significant even with the availability of safe backups. It is also essential to have tested business continuity plan to avoid major operational disruption. For example, many organisations are clueless about the scope of infection and lack an updated IT inventory list, which leads to an arduous effort to sanitize each and every system. Our team of professionals will help you negate the cyber threat in an efficient manner by determining best business practices to ensure that the business continuity plan of your organisation is not affected in case of a malicious attack. FORESEE, FIND, EVALUATE, COUNTER is our proposed method to negate potential cyberspace threats.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The ever-evolving threat landscape for businesses can no more be addressed in the traditional siloed approach of risk management. No more can one approach issues like cybersecurity, geo political risks, climate change or pandemic individually. The interconnectedness of multiple threat landscapes – cyber security and technological risk, brand & reputation, physical security and geo political, regulatory and legal risks – needs to be addressed and narrowed down through a hybrid, proactive and holistic approach. With eyes and ears to the ground, our expert team of security professionals will guide you through specific areas of threats, exposures and vulnerabilities to protect your people, assets, property, products, operations and reputation.

CRISIS RESPONSE

Business disasters aren’t a matter of better contingency planning. Some bolts do come out of the blue. But we often fail to see an impending crisis that often lie all around us. We help you anticipate and avoid an impending crisis by enabling you to recognize and prioritize the threat, to mobilizing the resources required to stop the threat. We are also experienced and steadfast in helping you navigate through the bolts that come out of the blue.

Political and State risk

Do businesses control politics or does politics control business? It’s the same chicken and egg conundrum. But political decisions in most cases can significantly affect the profitability or the expected value of an economic action that businesses engage in. With our diverse team, we are adept to gather information on cities, districts or states across the country, understand the causes and sources of potential political risks, find solutions, offer recommendations and help businesses make informed decisions. Always better to have an experienced insider!

Due Diligence

Reputation is distinct from the actual character or behaviour of a person, firm or a company. It may be better or worse. It could be of substantial risk if the reputation of a person, firm or a company is more positive than what lies beneath. This is where we bring human intelligence to the core over technical intelligence. Whether it’s understanding the reputational credibility of an individual, firm or a company, or to understand the political and regulatory implications within the country across any sector, we will help you gather intelligence right from the ground through our well-established network of professionals. We would bring to the table views from a host of stakeholders including investors, customers, suppliers, employees, regulators, politicians, non-governmental organisations or communities as required to put together the credentials, reputation or viability of any individual, firm, company or a proposed project.

Investigations

Whether its corruption, fraud, accounting and financial reporting impropriety, a regulatory inquiry or a commercial dispute, or misconduct or work place harassment it is critical to address the issue in a time-bound manner and with sensitivity. Our investigation support includes gathering evidence, attending witness interviews and identifying undisclosed information.

Cyber and Digital

Threats from the cyberspace is an ever-evolving phenomena from Y2K to today’s ransomware threats that has increased by 52 per cent in 2022. To negate threats from the cyberspace, time, efforts and cost involved are significant even with the availability of safe backups. It is also essential to have tested business continuity plan to avoid major operational disruption. For example, many organisations are clueless about the scope of infection and lack an updated IT inventory list, which leads to an arduous effort to sanitize each and every system. Our team of professionals will help you negate the cyber threat in an efficient manner by determining best business practices to ensure that the business continuity plan of your organisation is not affected in case of a malicious attack. FORESEE, FIND, EVALUATE, COUNTER is our proposed method to negate potential cyberspace threats.

Our Team

We rely on an intricate network of our vastly experienced and well-connected team of professionals – drawn from diverse backgrounds across the country including banking, law, law enforcement, strategy consulting, journalism, non-profit sector, and experts with insights on specific sectors.

Presley Thomas
Founder & Managing Director

Presley Thomas is a seasoned business intelligence professional with a background in investigative journalism spanning over 20 years, primarily with India’s leading English dailies. His expertise includes in-depth reporting on intricate financial fraud cases, corporate espionage, cyber and telecom fraud, and uncovering discrepancies within defence sector contracts. Formerly the Crime and Legal Editor at the Hindustan Times daily in Mumbai until January 2021, Presley transitioned into business consulting at Alvarez & Marsal as a Manager in the Business Intelligence division where he played a key role in spearheading notable intelligence initiatives and was pivotal in investigating a significant fintech fraud case. Leveraging his vast experience, Presley now drives Zeka Code Consulting LLP to delivering high-quality business intelligence solutions to corporate clients.

Anand Birai
Managing Partner

Anand Birai has been a successful entrepreneur in real estate and financial services. He has worked as consultant for public sector undertakings, state government bodies and corporates over a span of 20 years in India and Australia. Anand, who is a Master of Economics and Master of Communication Studies, has been a constant student of both real estate and financial services sector and has a nuanced understanding of the two sectors.

Our Team

We rely on an intricate network of our vastly experienced and well-connected team of professionals – drawn from diverse backgrounds across the country including banking, law, law enforcement, strategy consulting, journalism, non-profit sector, and experts with insights on specific sectors.

Presley Thomas
Founder & Managing Director

Presley Thomas is a seasoned business intelligence professional with a background in investigative journalism spanning over 20 years, primarily with India’s leading English dailies. His expertise includes in-depth reporting on intricate financial fraud cases, corporate espionage, cyber and telecom fraud, and uncovering discrepancies within defence sector contracts. Formerly the Crime and Legal Editor at the Hindustan Times daily in Mumbai until January 2021, Presley transitioned into business consulting at Alvarez & Marsal as a Manager in the Business Intelligence division where he played a key role in spearheading notable intelligence initiatives and was pivotal in investigating a significant fintech fraud case. Leveraging his vast experience, Presley now drives Zeka Code Consulting LLP to delivering high-quality business intelligence solutions to corporate clients.

Anand Birai
Managing Partner

Anand Birai has been a successful entrepreneur in real estate and financial services. He has worked as consultant for public sector undertakings, state government bodies and corporates over a span of 20 years in India and Australia. Anand, who is a Master of Economics and Master of Communication Studies, has been a constant student of both real estate and financial services sector and has a nuanced understanding of the two sectors.

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