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I have just finished sitting down with the panel to come up with 15 finalists out of 360 – yes, 360! – nominations for this year’s Women in Security (WiS) awards.
Congratulations to everyone that was nominated and may I make a huge thank you to everyone that took the time to complete the nomination form. You are all already winners as that person has taken time out to complete the form and to submit it. Good luck to all the finalists and now itโs down to the judges to make their final choices, for who will step on stage on September 12. See you at the awards if youโre coming and if not then look out for the announcements on the night. To the gossip:
Let’s start with promotions, shall we?! Firstly Wayne Tew-Cragg has been promoted to Managing Director of TSP (Total Security Protection). Richard Parnell told me that after nearly 36 years at the helm, he has taken the view to bring fresh energy and ideas to the rapidly growing business. “Wayne will be responsible for the day-to-day operational leadership of TSP, allowing me to focus on the strategic growth of the business in the UK and overseas. I continue to be the ultimate owner of TSP and will remain involved in the business as CEO. Wayne has been a board director of TSP for the past five years and has built strong relationships and trust with the TSP team, customers and suppliers alike and therefore the transition to MD should be seamless and reassure you of our continued commitment to the industry.”
Neil Killick has started a new position as VP of international sales for OpenEye. They deliver a cloud-managed video and data platform. Talking of OpenEye I see that Matt Sutcliffe has joined them also as channel manager. You may know Matt from Honeywell, back in 2004? Went to ADI Global where he was for 15 years then moved to Oprema before joining OpenEye? Did I mention ADI? It seems that Mark Starkey has joined Hemantโs team as sales director โ international. I also note that COP have been promoting more people this month, namely Dominic Chandler-Johnson has become director of business development while Nathan Garner has been made director of technical services. Staying on promotions, Andrew Herridge has become commercial director at Case security. You probably know that Dave Newbury has decided to retire, but I bet he canโt stay away!?
To new starters and wow it has been a busy month – in brief here we go. TDSi has supported university placements and apprenticeships for many years at their Poole base. Tina Baker, Software Project Manager at TDSi said: โWe are delighted to welcome Samuel Annear to the TDSi team as our new placement student. Whilst we design and manufacture physical access control and integrated security solutions, software development plays a key role in this. Samuel will experience the demands and rewards of working in a commercial business environment along with technical development, whilst our whole team will benefit from his fresh perspective and new ideas.โ Samuel is studying at nearby Bournemouth University – which indeed is where Tina went.
Hanwha Vision Europe have taken on a couple of new faces: Mark Roud as regional account manager, and David Vousden as National Accounts Manager. Paul Fletcher joins Chubb Fire and Security UK, Ian James Wilson has joined Convergint as a UK business development manager, while Alex Deal has started as their Program Manager โ DCs? I told you there were a lot to get through so keep up! Derek Todd joins Aiphone Corporation as an Area Sales Manager. Nick Bartlett is starting as Mobile Services Director at K4 Security โ K4 Group. Geoffrey Northcott starts a new position as Director of RLPSSS? If you donโt know it stands for Retail Loss Prevention Security and Safety Services, of course it does! Anton Wedderburn has joined Dahua UK and Ireland as business development manager for the south east. You Know Charlie James, Iโm sure – he has joined as Sales Director for UK Fire and Security Suppliers. Talking of those guys are you aware that they have a new MD; yep, none other than Chris Snell. Danny Harsley has joined Videcom Security as a director. After having spent 20 years pulling coax through murky, muddy underground ducts, sounds disgusting! Ant Hebblewaite has started a voluntary role as community manager for Ossett Football Club. Quite a new club, formed in 2018, and playing in the Northern Premier League East, which I am afraid means absolutely nothing to me but hopefully does to you football fans in Yorkshire.
Did you know that the Gallaghers, that’s Mike and Alison are Antโs in-laws? You do now! Mark Wall from Wall to Wall has taken on a new employee – yep, his daughter Maddy who has done so much for charity in recent years. Well done to you Maddy. Johnson Controls UK and Ireland have recruited Stephen Crรจme as service excellence director – wow, what a nice title; and Simon Hughes as design director. Carl Francis has joined OCS as regional director. And finally Michael Brennan has joined Hotel Chocolat as their loss prevention manager; are any free samples going Michael?!
Onto acquisitions, and were you aware Bosch Building Technolgies have aquired DMS Digitale Mess und Steuersysteme AG – yep that’s how its spelt, and don’t ask me to try to pronounce it! That’s how they spell it and I’m not arguing. HID has acquired Sewio Networks to add ultra-wideband technology to their portfolio, particularly for asset tracking – use cases being in automotive and manufacturing. Equistone Partners Europe, to give the private equity firm their full name, have sold the fencing and perimeter product company Heras to the perimeter and technical security company Garda Group.
All that said see you at WIS at the Shakespeare Underglobe Theatre (pictured is last year’s spectacle) in your finest evening wear!
