Here comes the event we have all been waiting for, IFSEC 2016. I will be running around as will the team, so hope to see you there, and in fact I look forward to seeing you there. But you know what is going to happen; you are going to see people and think I never knew they worked for them! So let me try and prepare you for those changes. Quite a few so here we go โฆ
360 Vision
Letโs start with Marc Wesley, yes the very same Marc that is married to Ann Wesley who I can hear now complaining that I have mentioned her in my gossip. Marc has left Xtralis and moved to 360 Vision, to work with his old pal Mark Rees. Now Marc who has been around in the industry for 30 years or more, and has been a little unfortunate some might say as his last few companies have been acquired by others. Xtralis was bought by Honeywell, Exact was bought by TYCO Security Products, Pelco by Schneider, so I wonder if it is that these people are trying to get Marc to join them or just bad luck! You decide.
Avigilon
Now letโs talk about Avigilon, seems Scott Davies yep the very tall Scott has gone back to Avigilon after a brief year with Razberi! You may recall Scott was at Avigilon for some three years before leaving. He and I first met in 2005 where Scott at that time was working for Gardiners, yes ADI Global as we now know them. Not sure if I did mention but Dean Brazenall left there and joined IndigoVision as Sales Director, and I spelt your name right Dean!?
OnCam
Simon Reed has left Hanwha (was Samsung) and joined OnCam as the Sales Director for Northern Europe. Meanwhile Hanwha have made two appointments but sadly I canโt share that with you at this minute, should able to at the show; ask me if you see me.
ATEC
Who remembers Mark Bouldin? Who has been with NICE Systems for the last five years or so (now called Qognify), he sort of stepped out of the industry, so to speak, to look after their Public Safety business; he is back working for ATEC Fire and Security. Mark started in the industry in 1995 where he worked for Thorn, remember them! Now TYCO of course. Come on, keep up.
AVE
Now here is a shocker for you Richard Jones has left Videoswitch after, wait for it, 18 years! Well 18 years and five months actually and is working on a part-time basis for American Video Equipment (AVE) as a sales guy. He has also set up his own business called diycctvshop.com.
Cortech
Robin Gill has also moved to Cortech as business development manager (BDM); you will remember Robin cut his teeth with Norbain where he spent almost 14 years. Talking of Norbain, here is a picture of Charlie Lacey receiving an award from Chriss Parry of Hanwha for being the partner of the year! Oh, no tie Mr L, shame on you!?
CSL expands again with the addition of a division and have appointed Jon Shipp as Director of M2M.Jon arrives with over 20 years of industry experience. He spent five years as head of M2M within BTโs Enterprises group, after BTโs acquisition of Transcomm UK, where he was Head of Technical Services. Nortech Control Systems have taken on Steve Greenaway as Business Development Director. Steve has joined from Storm Interface where he served 14 years.
Gareth Rhodes joins CCTVdirect as Business Development Manager. Gareth previously spent ten years as Sales and Marketing Manager at COP Security where he helped launch brands such as Dahua into the UK market. After moving to an installer he has been swayed back into the distribution sector. Also Chris Shaw and Catherine Stowe join the business development team at the Leeds-based distributor. Theyโre about to release the Chinese brand Uniview (UNV). Chris comes from three years at Norbain as Vistaโs Business Development Manager for the UK northern region.
Geoquip
Tony Dobson took up the role of UK Regional Sales Manager for Geoquipโs PIDS systems last month. As a security consultant heโs worked all over the world.
Charity news
Centro CCTV man Mark Babington is at it again, getting his Lycra shorts on and this time cycling to Paris in July to raise money for Marie Curie. He told me “The ride is 300km over three days – and those of you who have seen me recently will know that itโs going to take some effort to get into shape for it. All the money raised will be for our local Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull. Having visited there a few times over the last couple of years, I can tell you itโs amazing the work they do. The hospice specialises in end of life care, where unfortunately the average stay is 15 days. Every ยฃ1 donated goes to help patients and their families at what is the most difficult time.
His donations page is https://www.justgiving.com/stannahL2P
Also cycling for charity is Chris Newman who tells me: โI am Cycling the Coast to Coast in a day. Thatโs 150 miles across the Pennines including the near vertical Hardknott Pass. Usually takes about 13 hours in the saddle. Donโt ask me why it seemed like a good idea when I signed up a year ago.โ
His JustGiving page is – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Christopher-Newman7
The charity is one called Parasol which promotes integrated activities for young people who are disadvantaged through physical, mental or social reasons. โI have done a lot for them down the years and will always be moved when I see what these people do for kids and parents alike. Very humbling.โ
And the detector manufacturers GJD are racing in an endurance go karting event to raise money for Down Syndrome Extra 21 Once again. โTeam GJDโ is going to battle it out over a 1200m karting circuit for six hours. This race is the main annual fund raiser for DSE21 and will be held at Buckmore Park in Kent on Saturday, May 28. As in previous years, GJD is paying the entrance fee of ยฃ420 per team and hopes to raise a further ยฃ1000 in sponsorship for DSE21, which is completely managed by volunteers consisting of parents, carers and people with Down Syndrome. The charity receives no formal funding or grants and relies on money donated or raised through fundraising events. Money raised for the charity is used to help people with Down Syndrome to live full and rewarding lives. The main objectives of the charity are to promote equal opportunities, offer support and promote public awareness. I understand that quite a few companies have entered a team, donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/teamgjd2016.
