Roy Cooper’s December 2012 gossip in the print issue of Professional Security magazine.
Let me start by wishing you all a very merry Christmas. Yep, it’s that time of year already and it’s the season to be jolly! So I thought we would start by taking a look back at the year, and it’s been very tough, what with a recession and with Norbain taking £21.5m out of the industry. But it’s over now (I hope) and we have survived. Our bottom lines are not looking as strong as they were but most of us have just picked ourselves up and got on with it – which I must commend you for. All has not finished at Norbain yet, as I hear a rumour that even more people have been put on notice. We are being told, if we believe it, that we are now out of recession. Norbain have done deals with most if not all of their suppliers. Most suppliers I understand are still trading with the company all be it under new terms maybe.
Over the year we have seen many people change as we usually do so here is a summary of some: Peter Robinson went to DVTel, Terry Harradine went to WEC, Andy Jackson went to Lilin, where Jason Hill got promoted; Gary Rowden to Samsung, James Smith to Axis Communications; Dean Brazenall, and Mark Massie to Avigilon; Marc Wesley to Exacq; Dave Beech to Pixim; Doug Williams to Veracity; Dominic Jones to Samsung; Mark Thomas to Midwich; Geoff Bowers to Sicura Systems; Paul Dodds to CCTV Direct; Andy Coles to Frontline; Chris Webster to BDI Holding Group; Richard Allen-Miles to Moog, and John Campbell went to Vigilant Vision. What’s more, they are all still in those jobs, which is great. We saw companies change hands: Norbain went to Newbury, the company not the town; OK enough said! Sanyo went to Panasonic, Codestuff went to Digital Barriers, and Raytec went to Optex. Not to mention that CSL had an MBO (management buy out) and Ephrem Clarke started a new company, called TBT.
Latest gossip
I am sitting down having spent the last week at a number of events, catching up on that gossip. Global MSC Security’s autumn CCTV seminar was in Leeds where they had not only a number of exhibitors but also a number of visitors. It was interesting to see Anand Subbiah who was on the Canon stand; no, he is not working with Canon, because if you didn’t already know he has set himself up as a new specialist distributor called Adenar. Yes, based out of his old offices. Likewise Martin Cowley was there representing Vidicore. He has become their country manager for the UK and Ireland. Were you there? I might have caught you on camera, so go to our web site and take a look at the Gallery area. There you will find a number of pics of most people that were there. Did you hear that Julia from 360 Vision managed to lock herself out of her room at 6am wearing just a leopard skin thong – no, guys, no pictures! But the lesson here is to sleep fully clothed.
CSL joiners
Kate Butler and Daisy Collins join CSL Dualcom at their headquarters. These are two postgraduates that the company have taken on. Kate begins as key accounts coordinator after leaving the University of Sheffield with a BA Hons in English Literature. Daisy Collins joins the northern sales team as sales executive for the north west and Northern Ireland. Since her degree, Daisy has gained over a year’s experience within the industry, which stands her in good stead to hit the ground running. I met Kate at the CSL Insurer Risk Management Forum this week at Newbury (the town not the company) which was also the first time Simon Banks met her. Gavin Wilson re-locates from the north after the last four years in the industry. Gavin joins the southern sales team headed by recently promoted key accounts manager, Dave Willetts. Samantha Cambrook and Michael Boddice have both been promoted to regional sales managers in their respective areas. Aso some developments for their Nottingham office who support the field sales team; Lee Wightman becomes Telesales Supervisor.
in brief
Roger Noakes who I bumped into at this years Consec tells me that OCS have recruited Steve Cliff; Darren Riddell, who was previously at Spearpoint Risk Management; and Michael Webster, who comes from Vital Security. Although the Consec conference was under the Chatham House rule, but I am sure this bit isn’t! Other bits of gossip Steve Jones has been appointed as sales director at Security Buying Group. Scotshield welcomes two new senior members of staff to its Belfast office: Sean Crumley has been appointed as Regional Director and Roland Black joins the company as Business Development Manager.
It was a nice touch at the end of the ASC conference Consec for the association chairman Allan Hildage to present Yash with a certificate to mark his years in the industry and at JVC. By the way the ASC has changed the month and venue of Consec for 2013 – to October 3, and the National Motorcycle Museum just over the roundabout from the Birmingham NEC. Talking of JVC, Ian Galloway, their UK and Ireland Sales Manager – Security Products tells me they are planning open days for consultants day and installers on December 4 and 5 at the Crown Moran Hotel in Cricklewood in north London.
