A happy Valentine’s day to you all. Yes, don’t forget guys, its only a couple of weeks away. So what is the gossip I hear you say? Let’s start with the big news that Jonas Andersson has been appointed Senior Vice President for product planning and strategic marketing for the security solutions division of Samsung Techwin. As you will know Jonas is one of its founder members of the ONVIF group. He has spent the last 18 years at Axis Communications. I have met Jonas on a number of occasions and can’t think of a better person to get on your team. We wish you well Jonas.
Now have you heard that Tyco have bought First City Care? Of course you have but I must point out that this is the ADT side of the business which is a completely different company than Tyco Security Products, First City Care have reported a rise in their sales to £18m wow. And talking about companies, Visimetrics were acquired last month by Digital Barriers, which is a company that seem to be buying up quite a few security manufacturers.
John Kirkland has moved, as you will know John was the Managing Director at SDA Protec before it was bought by Quadrant. John then became the sales and marketing director for the new group but after a few other posts he has now joined the guys at Evolution as their sales and marketing director. Richard Lee has joined Genetec at the beginning of this year. I assume that was a difficult job to get as I know the guys have been looking for some time and that Richard had had three interviews to secure the job. Genetec like stability, hence the care in their selection. Richard leaves Lenel and earlier was at Tyco Security Products and Sensormatic, before it was bought.
Simon Nash has got back into it and is now working at Irisys as their Global Business Development Manager for Security Products. A nice long title Simon. As you know Simon was at Sony from 2005 until April 2012 when he took voluntary redundancy. Before that he was at Pelco, and Panasonic, where he started in our industry, in 1988.
Gary Sykes whom you may know from his days at NVT or Samsung has joined Direct CCTV as the Managing Director. I spoke to Gary (who I think looks like the former Dr Who actor David Tennent?) about being an MD and he said he had found the title daunting, but may I point out to all of you that MDs are still people, will still have bills to pay with wives and children to please, so no need to treat us any different. Well, a little respect goes a long way but then does it not with whoever you are dealing with?
I have not mentioned Norbain yet have I? It seems that Andy Cassidy, who is also a really good guy and has been at Norbain since 2008 has been promoted to look after branded CCTV products. Yes that was Buzz Coates’ old job; he has gone to Raytec, as you know; yes you did, you have just forgot. And it seems that Mark Buckland has after a little over ten years gone to work with Avigilon, I assume working with Mark Massie. Funny that as Mark was also at Gardiners, in other words ADI Global, also for just over ten years, I wonder if he will be looking to move in another ten years? You can’t criticise that – you should see some of the CVs I get to see, some people struggle to stay ten weeks! And Paul Roberts at Thinking Space has been promoted to commercial director, nice one Paul.
Some new guys at 360 Vision. Jeremy (Jez) Furze in Scotland who as you know was at Panasonic for seven years or so, and prior to that he was at Maximum Security, starting in our industry at ADT, but don’t hold that against him they have also taken on Ashley Wyton (International Sales and Marketing Manager – Thermal). Don’t say anything about his picture as he has sent me several variations. It seems he does not like looking at himself, you only need to look at his Linkedin profile for proof of that. Anyway he worked for Cooper Industries, and Flir, and started at ADT.
And finally after their 2012 ‘Big Thank You’ tour to celebrate their 25th birthday, Pyronix are to continue with those events in 2013 with the ‘Big Thank You Price Promise.’ On the 2012 tour the alarm product company also distributed £60,000 in prizes to their installers.
