We are in November already, where is the year going? We are at that time of year of course where people are moving around into new roles so whom I hear you cry? Here we go.
Stuart Harris has joined HIKVision as their BDM covering the South West area. Stuart was over at Axis but before that spent almost 12 years with NVT. Also joining HIKVision is Russell Baker who has joined them as a security consultant relations manager, whatever that means, sounds like lots of lunches to me?! And as you know Russell was over at Zenitel and Vicon but started in the industry with Chubb back in 1999 (as did I but quite a few years before that). Does that make him one of these new millennials that people keep talking about, nope I didn’t think so.
Now let’s talk Pelco for a minute who seem to be having a few changes for some reason, Firstly Simon Nash has left, to join Dahua as a Senior Project Sales manager. His focus, on the transport sector. Simon has been in the industry since 1988 and has been with Panasonic, Sony, Pelco a couple of times and Irisys. Also left is Bob Groom who has gone to set up a new distributor-type business called HeatSec. Now they will be distributing Flir products and Videotec (to name just two). Yep, that’s Videotec where Bob used to work.
Also leaving at Christmas time is Marc Wesley who told me that he has a pile of jobs to do at home so is taking some time out to do them, nice! but then Ann his wife is still at Norbain so he is going to become a kept man I assume? Hope he is a good cook. Oh yes, Marc has been around forever much like me in fact, starting in the industry back in 1987 for Norbain which is where he met Ann. It’s ok, I’ve still got 15 years on him. But back to our friends Pelco, I hear through the grape vine that Geoff Gritton will be joining them if he hasn’t already. Geoff recently moved to Facewatch you may recall. Tony Burns is still there as well of course, in case you need him. And word last month from Fresno, California, Pelco’s head office: Kurt Takahashi is their new Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2019. Previously, Takahashi was President of AMAG Technology.
Ben Speakman has joined Hanwha as UK country manager. He until recently was Sales Director, UK North for Avigilon. He is a seasoned (nice word, that, I might use it of myself) sales professional who has worked within the electronic security industry for over 16 years. Reporting to Bob (Best of Best, Bob’s words) (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin Europe, Ben will be responsible for developing and driving sales growth, within what they term the highly competitive UK video surveillance market.
Wavestore, the software firm, has appointed Mark Claxton as Managing Director. Mark, who has an MBA in Global Strategic Management and Marketing. James Smith, Wavestore’s previous Managing Director, remains on the board of directors but who has taken up a role as CEO for a company called Synel Industries UK. He also said: “Mark’s general management skills and businesses acumen will be put to very good use as we endeavour to take Wavestore through to the next stage of its global development.”
AMG have a new MD, Mr Steve Clarke, who will be working alongside the existing management team. A well-known and respected security industry figure, Steve’s 30 years’ experience spans senior management roles at video transmission manufacturing companies, including COE, GE companies IFS and Fiber Options and most recently, ComNet.
The BSIA has appointed John MacAskill as the new Director of Manpower and Export. John has been promoted from his previous role at the BSIA and will now oversee the manpower sections of the association there in Worcester, as well being responsible for working with the Export Council and its external partners in promoting British security overseas. His duties will include raising profile and developing new relationships and opportunities for members. John has over 25 years of experience in the industry, working in business development for Pointer Ltd and Connelly Security Systems both BSIA member companies. He joined the BSIA in 2016 as Scottish Regional Representative, moving to Senior Business Executive before overseeing membership, guarding and export. John is also a member of the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Talking of the BSIA, the BSIA’s training arm Skills for Security is to partner with EFT Group in the training of its apprentices. Some 22 apprentices have begun a bespoke apprenticeship covering Fire Alarms, CCTV, Intruder and Access Control. Previously EFT Group funded their own apprentice training using external tutors.
Sad news – It is with the heaviest of hearts and the deepest of sympathy that I announce David Clark has passed away. David was the head of Security at the Francis Crick Institute and was both the chair of the ASIS International UK Chapter and the UK Security Commonwealth. He was a very active person in our industry as you will know and was a genuinely nice man, it will be a great loss to us all. Our thoughts are with his family and close friends.
So the only other thing to mention is to invite you along to ST19 at the Park Inn Hotel in Heathrow on Thursday, November 7; it’s the last one for this year and will have some 70-plus exhibitors lined up to show their products and services not to mention the line up of speakers for the conference, notably Liz France, chair of the SIA. It’s your last chance to get a free lunch on me this year, so I hope to see you there but don’t forget to register so that I have got enough food. You can do that by going to https://professionalsecurity.co.uk/security-twenty-register/.
See you there!
