Summer is here so make the most of it, as it will soon be gone! Let’s get straight into that gossip that you so love to read about.
Last month I talked about Motorola buying analytics firm Calipsa, and said, who’s next I wonder? To prove that all this gossip columns are linked, we got the answer to that question the very next day after we went to print. They have bought Videotec, the Italian video surveillance manufacturer. It seems that (from what I can work out) their strategy is to buy the companies they buy products from. I understand that Pelco bought Videotec’s products, hence buying them for a what I understand was $22m. Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions, said: “Protecting the security and operational continuity of critical infrastructure is vital to our cities and businesses. With Videotec’s specialised suite of cameras, we’re extending the breadth of our portfolio to help secure and support the demanding environments of these complex, essential industries.” The acquisition of Videotec complements Motorola’s line of fixed video cameras. Let’s ask the question again, who’s next?!
Have you heard about Steve Norman? Most of you will know that he left Ajax and has been looking for the next job that’s right for him – which he has now found, and that is as Country Sales Director with ZKTeco Europe. That’s a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZKTeco based in Dongguan, China, a manufacturer of biometric verification products. They are talking about Smart Identity Authentication Applications, Smart Entrance Control Solutions, including pedestrian and vehicular, smart office, and smart access. Around 3,600 employees globally and over 1000 of them are R&D engineers. So now you know. Steve has gained a lot of experience over the years working for HIKVision and Dahua plus other manufacturers namely Vicon and Syac. He has worked for the installer Chubb, also with distributors the likes of Norbain and PTS. So he has sat on both sides of the fence. Good luck Steve. Something Steve told me by the way, which is always a mistake, is that his partner calls him her very own Forrest Gump. Why? You can ask him that question!
Did I mention Chubb? Marc Cooke has been announced as the new MD of Aspire Software Security, which is Bold Communications in the UK and Innovative Business Solutions in the Nordics. Marc was Group Sales Director for Chubb Fire & Security Group and has joined Aspire to head up its expanding, so I am told, security portfolio.
Talking of Steves, Steve Harrison at Pelco has recruited Matt Raban and Dave Grealish. Matt is going to be the Regional Sales Manager – UK and Republic of Ireland Video Security and Access Control; and I believe he is looking after the North while Dave will become the Regional Sales Manager for Ireland. I think you all know Matt has been in the industry for a while now, since 1999 that is. Dave has been in since 2004, prior to that he worked for electrical wholesalers where he no doubt he got involved with Security products.
Racheal Breakspear, pictured, has joined Oprema as Business Development Manager. Now Racheal has come from ADI-Global where she was for almost ten years. She lives in Thatcham so I am assuming she is doing that area. Good luck Racheal.
Amberstone Security want to become the UK’s largest privately owned security company, they say. They unveiled a plan to grow to £300m annual turnover by 2025. The business was born you may recall out of Cardinal Security, which fell into administration just two years after an MBO. Cardinal’s Founder, Jason Trigg, who had exited the business on completion of the MBO, returned, ultimately creating the new. The guarding industry has often been accused of being slow to adapt, Amberstone say; hence their risk-based model for deployment of personnel and resources. It proved a hit with retailers, many of whom were being tasked to do more with less. Amberstone sales rose rapidly from £14m in 2019 to over £77m in 2021. The business is on track to exceed £100m a year in sales.
Acquisitions
HID Global, the identity security company, who I saw and sat with at IFSEC, has acquired Vizinex RFID. The acquisition increases HID Global’s presence and relevance in their key vertical markets – healthcare and medical, manufacturing, oil and gas, and data centres. Björn Lidefelt, EVP and Head of HID Global said: “Bringing Vizinex into the HID family strengthens our position in the RFID market, especially in North America. This strategic acquisition exemplifies our commitment to extending our leadership in the RFID portfolio by providing a comprehensive suite of technology and services to customers across key markets.”
Charity
Clive Talbot at Vindex has asked me: “Please read the story in the attached link and if you feel you can, please give a little bit to help this really valuable cause. You will read why it is so personal to me, honestly anything you can give will make a difference; 102 miles on a bike is a very long way for a 57-year-old who is not a natural cyclist so please help me to help others. That link is – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ridelondonessex100-clivetalbot.
