May I start by wishing each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. Yep, this is the last issue before 2025 – and we’re into the second quarter of the century!? Let’s raise a glass to 2025 as it’s on its way.
Can I thank you for reading, but of course! Also to all of you that have made up the gossip this year and that has been a lot of you; some in fact more than once! As ever let’s not hang around and let’s get stuck into who has gone where this month as, yet again, there is loads to cram in.
Firstly let’s congratulate Lynda Trivedi who has been promoted to Regional Sales Director of the UK, Ireland and Benelux for Eagle Eye Networks, and yes; she is married to Hemant Trivedi from ADI, there is a clue in her surname! Talking of promotions, Dennis Roe has become a director of the Association of Security Consultants (ASC). He’s a past winner of the Imbert Award and the ASC’s Lead for Academic Engagement and Professional Development.
Apstec Systems, who describe their products as ‘smart people screening technology’, announce the appointment of Stephen Cooper OBE (no relation) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Stephen has been a key member of the Apstec team for some time and you may recall his experience in security takes in London 2012. Darren Watson has started a position as Director of Security Services at TP Fire and Security Ltd. Leigh Platnauer has been promoted to Sales Director Midlands and North for Trinity Fore and Security Systems. Danny Vant has joined the ACS Pacesetters guarding firm The Keyholding Company as Managing Director. Prior to that Danny was at PayPoint PLC after he was at Mitie, where he was Director of Signature, which once upon a time was their front of house business. Talking of Mitie, Ryan Brown is starting a new position as Solutions Director. Anthony McClair starts a new position too, as Physical Security Specialist at Vodaphone. Saul Gold has joined High Lander as Director of Sales. You might wonder if that should be one word and is something to do with Scotland, instead they have software that enables drones to do autonomous flights, and drone fleet management, what’s that, I hear you cry! Ask Saul!
Synectics Security, the security systems integrators in the UK and Ireland, is rebranding. It’s now Ocular Integration (Ocular for short) and under new leadership. The rebrand reflects the company’s independence and visionary focus, as I’m sure you already guessed. Their customers are in government, high-security, public space, heritage, transport, custodial services, utilities, and other critical infrastructure. Their new Managing Director is Chris Jepson. He has, the firm says, a ‘hands-on’ background in security technology engineering, and over two decades’ industry experience – including 18 with the company. He believes it’s an exciting new era for the business. Abloy UK has added Mike Harrison as Business Development Manager for Healthcare. Evolution, the Buckinghamshire-based fire and security systems business, has appointed Peter Kidd as new Director of Professional Services – Business Development.
Take a breath! Hanwha have been on the “hunt for Ian”, it seems, as they have recruited Ian Cook as Technical Integrations Manager and Ian James as Pre-sales Manager. Hikvision have appointed Brian Ebury who is starting as audiovisual business development manager (BDM); you’ll have read in last month’s Professional Security Magazine and seen at their autumn roadshow and indeed at Security TWENTY Heathrow only the other day the push Hikvision are making on digital signage.
Security Dynamics (Europe) Ltd have taken on David Phillips. Martin Weatherhead becomes the MD at BNI UK. Mark Pennington starts as the Commercial and Technical Director at Ocular, isn’t that two jobs? I wonder if he has two salaries; I bet not! Stephen Alker starts at Kings Secure Technologies as Director of Solutions. Peter Ayres joins Dahua Technology ProAV team as a BDM. Mark Massie tells me that he has increased his team and appointed Francesco Noris as a new BDM for southern Europe. Bernard Farrimond (some great names here) joins Axis Communications as key account manager for Global Partners. Natalie Freakley starts a new position as Customer Experience Director for Fenix Monitoring. Jason Cooke starts as Regional Sales Manager UK – Midlands and North for Wavestore. Nigel Brown LCGI Dip.CSMP M.ISMI CCMP MSyl (now that’s a lot of titles) has become Head of Corporate Security and Organisational Resilience for the BBC. He will oversee the Beeb’s corporate security strategies and focus on operational resilience. Ensuring the BBC can adapt to whatever is thrown at them. A big job by the sounds of it but Nigel is just their man. Emma Reed has joined AVA Fire and Security as their Business Opportunity Manger. Does that make her a BOM? That’s a new title on me.
While all those people have been moving or being promoted, let me tell you that a few others have been acquiring businesses such as HID, the identity product company. It has acquired IXLA, an Italian manufacturer of laser and colour personalisation products for cards and passports. This expands HID’s card and passport portfolio, particularly in European markets and emerging economies.
Ranger Fire and Security has completed its acquisition of Motherwell-based fire, security and critical services company, Secureshield. This marks the seventh acquisition by Ranger after its launch in February, and it says it has imminent plans for further deals. Secureshield will act as Ranger’s operational hub in Scotland and north east England. Its Managing Director is becoming Regional Chair, alongside his current role. Motorola Solutions has acquired 3tc Software (3tc for short), a provider of control room software for fire and rescue services and the police, based in Leicestershire. Oprema and EET Group have acquired Advanced Access Ltd, an access control specialist based in Northampton. This marks an expansion of EET’s Surveillance & Security business line. Advanced Access is an independently owned business set up nearly 30 years ago by co-founders John Peddle and Angela King as a specialist supplier of access control, CCTV, door entry, and security systems to UK-based installers. ABCA Systems has acquired Citrus Group, their fourth acquisition in eight weeks. This follows the takeovers of Maintec Ltd, AGS Tech Ltd, and HBS Fabrication Northwest Ltd, all based in the north west.
