Here we are at the end of the year already, so let me be the first to wish you all a happy Christmas. I do hope that we will be able to get together with our loved ones and have an as near to normal Christmas as possible.
It has been a very odd year, as we know. But there is light at the end of the tunnel so hopefully this time next year we will all be wondering what that was all about. We have seen the loss of a number of our friends this year so let’s spare a thought for their families, at what should be a time of joy and celebration.
We have all been locked in our homes and seen a very different way of working, we have discovered that our cars can do three weeks to the gallon and all wish we had invested our money into Zoom. Yep getting the latest gossip to you is difficult as there is not a lot happening, but there is always some gossip; so let me stop waffling and get on with it.
Firstly. Ashley Cardno, pictured, has decided to leave Oprema and join a company called Red CCTV, you could say poacher turned gamekeeper as by all accounts his new company offer site security based in the UK. Ash has gone there as the Technical Director. I assume that means he is now a customer of his previous company. And talking of people leaving Oprema I see that Andy Thomas has joined Ajax as their distribution manager working with Steve Norman of course, formerly of Dahua, so you can see the tie-up here between these guys, it’s an incestuous business the security world we live in.
Now talking of Dahua I have received a press release from those guys saying they have terminated their contract with COP? Interesting and I wonder what happened there, not for me to speculate, but Cop are saying they now have a new partner, an Israeli company called provision-isr.
Craig Smith has left Hanwha Techwin after almost ten years and gone to join Genetec, he will be the regional sales manager, his region being Scotland of course.
On a different note the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP) have appointed a new Clerk. Trish Boswell is leaving after having been the clerk for as long as I can remember and I think that’s its only appropriate that we say thank you to Trish and what a great job she has done. I am sure that most of us do not realise the amount of work that goes into the job. Trish has always done this so professionally, and with a big smile on her face, whatever event you went to Trish was there and usually first in and last out. Great job Trish, you will be missed I am sure, however filling those shoes is Adrienne Harper, yes the wife of Wes Harper who is a court member. Adrienne has a lot of operational experience and beat a number of candidates that were interviewed. I know Adrienne so can vouch for her and fully expect her to fill those shoes in no time at all. Good luck.
In brief:
TdSI have taken on their first high level apprentice/trainee product engineer, Oscar Johnson. Oscar is studying for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) at Bournemouth and Poole College for two years, down the road from TdSI head office of course; but will continue as a Degree Apprentice for a further four years, with a permanent role at TDSi alongside his studies.
360 Vision Technology, the UK manufacturer of PTZ and thermal imaging cameras, has appointed Craig Carton as Customer Support Manager.
Synectics Security has appointed a new Operations Director. With over 20 years’ experience in UK operational and security-focused project delivery, Colin Butlin is the first external appointment as part of the new-look company. He will be working with Synectics’s Managing Director, Iain Stringer, and Commercial Director Mark Pennington.
Evolution, the Buckinghamshire-based fire and security systems business, has appointed Mark Emery as its new Service Operations Manager. Mark’s main task will be to manage service delivery in the UK, bringing Evolution’s various branches together through service and operations. Also he’s overseeing regulatory requirements of engineer training and familiarity with key legislation, and will work with the installation company’s Scottish and Irish teams.
At Vemotion Interactive, the UK supplier of wireless live video streaming for systems integrators and OEMs, Stuart Bishop has been appointed as Head of Channel Recruitment, and Nick Daman as Channel Partner Manager.
Turning to guarding in London; CIS Security has appointed Steve Hall as Director Corporate Strategy. Steve was Chief Executive at Ultimate Security. Steve’s new role will lead the design of strategy across various high-value projects within CIS. He will drive the strategic planning process and act as a trusted advisor to the leadership. And SmartSec Solutions has a new sales director. Helmey El-Aasar joins from G4S where he was Director of Strategic New Business Development. He will work alongside SmartSec’s operational team and be taking the company into new sectors such as higher and further education, and healthcare.
Remember Razberi? ACRE has acquired the Texan firm Razberi Technologies.
So that just leaves me to end as I started and wish that you please have a lovely Christmas, stay safe, thank you for reading and roll on a normal (or more normal) 2021.
