Let me start with the news close to home, after 147 months working alongside me (not that I have been counting), Professional Security Magazine’s very own Liz Lloyd is leaving. Yep, it was just over 12 years ago when Liz joined us to help me set up and introduce to the industry our very own Security TWENTY events, ST for short. Itโs been quite a journey having grown that from the first show we ran in the Forest of Arden near Birmingham, in 2013 (were you there?) to the eight events we now run each year. Liz is off to join the BSIA to run their marketing for them; so you will still see her busy running events for sure and I dare say we may see her at our events but on the other side of an exhibition stand perhaps?!
In brief
Phil Tennent who has been very unlucky recently has secured a new role as international Business Development Manager (BDM), with ISM. Who are they? you may ask – let me tell you! ISM is a solutions business based in Crawley with more than 30 years of experience in the manufacturing and inventing of integrated security management solutions, taking in alarm monitoring, digital video security and building security management systems. Another Phil, Phil Williams joins Bosch Security and Safety Systems as a regional sales manager. Bauwatch UK & Ireland have been busy recruiting this month, as Laura Buzzard joins them as business Development Manager (BDM). Theo Cridge joins them as Depot Lead (Midlands) – I’m not sure what that means, Theo? Lee Starkins becomes Head of National Installations at Chubb Fire and Security. And talking Chubb, Lisa Whitehead joins as Regional Operations manager. Louis Harrild is going to PureTech Security as a marketing team lead and Videographer. Phil Sayle joins RDS Fire and Security as Head of service. I also see that Tracie Hitchcock has joined Hikvision as internal sales. Tracey worked with me many years ago, at the distributor MVD, I can tell you a few stories about Tracie, but that’s for over a beer or two at some time. David Ross joins Videcon as a BDM. ADI Global Distribution have recruited Dean Kenny as the UK and Ireland internal Sales and C&PS international leader. What is C&PS short for? My guess is consultancy and professional services. Sam Stuart joins Vicon Industries as a Sales manager โ UK. John Titus starts as Senior Project Manager at Everon. Shaun Gervis is a new sales manager at Lochrain Bain, who you may have seen exhibiting at our ST25 shows in Ireland? Effie-Mae Sims starts as account executive at Sena Group Ltd. Nick OโLeary starts as contract manager for Dual-Stream; now, Nick also used to work with Tracie and myself many years ago. TDSi have taken on Marc Perry as their distribution sales manager for the north, and Rob Bullen as Distribution Sales Manager. Rob also worked for me for a while at Imigix, but we donโt talk about that, do we Rob?! Raff Miah starts as sales team leader for Addsecure. Richard Parker joins Amthal Group as Head of Sales. Colin Mason starts as a BDM for AVS projects; and last but not least, Keith Dawes becomes the Operation Manager at Veritech Security โ UK Security Solutions.
Directors
Tony Burns has left Convergint and is joining VIS Security Solutions, in Ireland I believe. Tony of course is a poacher turned gamekeeper as prior to his move to Convergint he was with Pelco. Paul Mason starts as Senior Director for Global Software Operations at Honeywell, while David Robertson starts as Senior Projects Director at Honeywell Building Solutions. David McCord starts as Regional Director at Total Security Protection. Billy Hunter has become a director at Secureshield. Andy Douglas starts as General manager โ Asset Plus & Operations Director HVACR and Controls UK and Ireland at Johnson Controls (how many titles is that?). For the record, HVACR stands for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. The ACS Pacesetters guarding firm CIS Security have been busy this month as Paul Brady has become the Managing Director โ Operations while Neill Catton (who we featured in 2021 as chair of the City Security Council) becomes the CEO. Sammy Harrington starts as Operations Director as does Kieron Nunney. Hope I captured all of those moves? Benjamin Stokes starts as Strategic Director at Linaker. Jacksons Fencing say that Cis Francis is returning to then as Commercial Director after having been away at BRE for some six years. The fire prevention and security company SECUREIT has appointed industry man Leon Window as Sales Director. Verkada has appointed Micah Deriso as Head of Global Channel, to lead the firm’s global channel (obviously, I suppose) strategy and partnerships.
Some sad news; as you may already know, Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, one of the Yorkshire regionโs most dynamic and respected businesswomen and the champion of Wentworth Woodhouse, has died at the age of 67. A massive shock to us all, Julie was the founder of Pyronix besides one of the most active members of the industry. She was a strong leader and helped shape the industry we are in today having been the chair with the BSIA, the first female we might note, and she was chair of the industry body RISC. I remember my first meeting with Julie many years ago, itโs like remembering where you were when key moments in history happen. I will miss her as I know many will and my thoughts and deepest sympathy go to her family, friends and colleagues.
And sadly you will not see me at The Security Event at the NEC, I happen to have booked a holiday so will be in Bali. The test to see if you do read this is when you’re asked, where is Roy?, you can say he is in Bali. I shall find out if there’s mobile phone connection, no doubt there is. See you at Glasgow and if you’re a golfer then get in touch (preferably not while I’m in Bali – did I mention Iโm going to Bali?!) as we have a golf day on the day before the actual ST25 event. Golf is on the Tuesday, May 13; and our show on the Wednesday, May 14.
