Let me start by wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year. Let us hope that 2020 brings everything you could ever wish for and dream of.
Someone starting a new dream is Andy Cassidy who is now the Sales Manager for Vicon. Andy started in the industry in 1995 and has a lot of experience working in distribution and manufacturing. Andy is also a very active Scout leader and a part time member of the TA (Territorial Army) where he does the trooping of the colour each year. Where does he get the time to do all these things?
Likewise Kris Hallet, spelt the same way as my son Kris! He has joined Dahua. Now you may remember Kris from Norbain where he spent just over 15 years; he also worked for DVS and HIKVision but was more recently with CitySync, the automatic number plate recognition people. You may not know this but Kris is a keen golfer so if you want a challenge I am sure he is up for it as any excuse to get on the golf course, eh?
Paul Tennent has become the new Managing Director over at Shield Security Services based in where he has been working for last few months; but has now got the top job. Paul is still running his training consultancy company called Tentec. Now Paul and I go back many years as I do with all his family. But of course Paul still spends a lot of time out in Dubai so if you wondered where he gets that tan from, now you know.
Now it seems I owe Frankie Bellavia at EET an apology, because a month ago when I said he was opening a new office in Uxbridge I didn’t realise they already had an office there! Sorry, my mistake, let’s put it down to a senior moment, or something like that.
TDSi have appointed Emily Phillips is their new Internal Customer Advisor, based at the company’s Poole headquarters. Emily, pictured, will be assisting customers from across the company’s UK and international export markets.
Oprema have appointed Jamie Evans as Product Manager. Jamie will take overall responsibility for the company’s products, ensuring they are being procured as efficiently as possible and that the people selling and supporting it have access to the latest tech. Jamie originally comes from an IT background, however has been working in the security industry for 12 years. You may recall him at DVS and of course HIKVision. “He has worked for both manufacturers and distributors and brings with him a vast amount of industry knowledge,” says Ross Hawkins, Operations Director at Oprema.
At AMG, the ISO 9001:2015 approved UK manufacturer of fibre, analogue, IP/Ethernet, wireless and hybrid communication transmission products, Tom Exley and Stephen Kummik have joined as company directors. Tom and Stephen have held senior management roles at video transmission manufacturing companies, including GE International Fibre Systems (IFS), GE Fibre Options and most recently, ComNet.
On a note regarding charity, last month I mentioned that we were hoping to get the contribution to Embrace Children victims of crime (the charity we supported at our ST19 Heathrow show in November) doubled by the “big give”. I am pleased to report that we managed to achieve that so the £2,400 was doubled to £4,800. Can I recommend to all those charities we have supported over the years to register/ We have collected over £100,000 at these events and if they were all registered to the big give that would have added a further £100k. Not to be sniffed at! It will mean waiting for the payment as this has to be done at a certain time and date but may be worth the wait.
Looking ahead into 2020 I am pleased to tell you that we will be running our regional events this coming year of course now called Security TWENTY 20, I do remember talking about 2020 when we set the shows up some seven years ago now and thinking that’s a long way off! Here we are already!? You will see us at the same venues as before, (if it’s not broke then don’t fix it!) namely Birmingham on Thursday, February 20 for a start. Our special STS event in Wales runs on March 26 and 27; then, Glasgow on April 22, Manchester on July 14, Belfast and Dublin in September 8 and 10, and back to London on November 5. Of course the night before each will be the charity dinners. They are a great way to entertain your clients and network while we have some fun and raise money for a local and related charity. So come along as my guest, to any or even all of them. Just ask.
