Roy's Monthly Gossip

Bake off winner Neil

by Mark Rowe

Let me be one of the first to wish you all a happy and fantastic new year, I hope it delivers everything and more that you could wish for, prosperity and good health for you and all your family.

Welcome to 2019, I wonder what the year has in store for us all? Some have started new jobs, so let’s get straight into that shall we. Martin Cowley has left IDIS for a company called 4Sight Imaging, he told me. “I bring with me over 30 years’ experience in the security industry, particularly in video surveillance, where I’ve been instrumental in the phenomenal growth of some well-known companies in the Security industry. Most recently IDIS Europe where I played a significant part in the launch of IDIS and the DirectIP product line in the UK, US and MEA territories. In addition, I have also had my own consultancy business that helped launch some of the world’s leading security brands.” Suffice to say that he’s thrilled to join 4Sight who offer automatic number plate recognition, ‘a simple and affordable yet scalable and powerful solution’. His very words, whoever said Martin is not a salesman.

Account director

Damian Marsh has joined Design Automator as an account director. One of his first jobs for them was to collect an award for software manufacturer of the year at the Security Excellence Awards the other week in London, a nice way to start a new job. You may not know this but Damian started in the industry in 1989. I know, he doesn’t look that old. He was an apprentice for a company called Staefa; since then he has worked his way up the ladder to director level at the likes at Assa Abloy and Anixter to name just a few.

GJD joiner

Jason Hill has joined GJD as one of the directors, Jason has left his role over at Merit Lilin where he was Group Vice President and served with the company for some 20 years. So I am not quite sure how GJD MD Mark Tibbenham enticed him over but I am nipping up to see them in the first week of January to be able to give you the full gossip. And as we are talking GJD, Gary Williams is a new technical support adviser there. Gary offers support of a technical nature to installers with queries about products. He’ll also be creating and updating manuals, and other installation documents, responding to call-outs and configuring new firmware. Gary has worked in the industry for over 22 years; and has experience in installing and maintenance of GJD security equipment. Gary has worked in technical roles for NSI, Bafe, ADI and SSAIB accredited security installation companies.

Sales latest

Some sales team restructures. At detector firm Optex, they’re giving channel partners and customers a point of contact to deal with any type of enquiry, whether sales, technical or logistics. Each person has an area of expertise with a national remit, and is the primary contact for a region for local installers and distributors. Neil Foster, who has particular expertise in critical infrastructure projects, will continue in the north of the UK and Ireland. Dale Jones, whose experience is transport projects, will keep the Midlands. Mathew Oakley, who has recently joined, will concentrate on London and the south east. Sarah Black, who has experience in B2B channel sales, is UK Sales Channel Manager, and will look after the south west. Benjamin Linklater, Sales Director, took over last January. And two new roles to tell you: Sandrine Cocks, national key account manager, and Connor Banfield, internal sales. At the life-safety systems manufacturer C-TEC in Wigan, Simon Griffiths is the company’s new Northern Fire Account Manager. He’s replacing Brian Foster, recently promoted to a new role of UK Sales Manager. They’ve appointed Jeff Pankhurst as South East Fire Account Manager. Craig Swift, formerly a distribution account manager at the company, has become their South West Fire account man; and Andy Turner stays with the Midlands and Ireland.

Charity bake-off

The control room furniture firm Thinking Space Systems has been fund-raising over the last year for a local Hampshire charity Rose Road Association. They have raised close to £1,500, and recently held their annual competition, the TSS Bake Off. From their trio of bakers came a clear winner. Security Sales Specialist Neil Walker was crowned TSS Baker 2018 after he created a Rose Road themed cake with hand-made roses. I’m more of a restaurant-goer than a baker, so I am full of admiration. I can only say, it seems a shame to have cut into it! Yum yum!

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