I am always getting asked; how do you get your gossip, where does it come from? Well it’s not rocket science, I have been around in the industry for 47 years and know a lot of people, I network a lot so get to hear things all the time; some I can use, most I can’t. My business partner once said to me many years ago that everyone knows at least two people that won’t tell anyone else, and they know two people that won’t tell, and so on; and before you know it everyone knows but the person with the secret can’t understand how it’s got out, as they never told anyone. Clearly they did! So if you want to keep a secret, don’t tell anyone!
I mentioned last month briefly that Camilla Kirkham, pictured, has joined Nimans. She invited me up and there is a ‘spotlight’ page on them in the September print issue of Professional Security magazine, but to add to her gossip she has appointed a team of five: namely Alex Akiba, Jemma Adams, and David Wilkin; these guys and gals having worked with Camilla in the past of course; and a guy called Gavin Elly who was already working in another division within the group and has moved over as he is strong in IP and networks. She will be up and ready to take orders come September 1.
Mark Rainbow has joined 360 Vision Technology as a business development manager after he has been working at Ogier Electronics for some 25 years, wow that’s a long time. But not many of you will know this but Mark was a match day supervisor once at Wembley Stadium; you see, you learn something new every day.
TDSI have appointed a new channel partner, Gwen Curran who is looking after the north and Scotland for them. What is a channel partner? It seems they are the lifeblood for TDSi says John Davies the MD, who says they have a close working relationship with them as they build business together.
Comelit have added to their fire team. They are Alain Pellegrini, Export Technical Manager for Fire in Italy, Mandy Bowden, Fire Business Development Manager North. David Fraser, New Fire Technical Support Engineer. Wesley Wright, UK Fire Manager.
The new owners at Pelco are making changes. Jean-Marc Theolier, CEO, will be leaving, effective immediately. Brian McClain, COO, will take the role of President, leading the recently independent company while the search for a new CEO is finalised. Transom Capital Group acquired the company from Schneider in May 2019. However nothing has changed here in the UK as far as I know. Tony Burns and his team of Marc Wesley, Mark Pritchard, and Bob Groom are still there and hard at it.
Acquisition
Digital ID the ID Card company have acquired Essentra Security, another ID card company. As part of the Components division of Essentra plc, Oxford-based Essentra Security supplies ID card printers, consumables and accessories to end-users and trade customers. Digital ID says this acquisition cements its position as a UK ID card company with 100-plus staff across four offices.
Ifsec
Did you go? They have just released their numbers and apparently the number of visitors has increased to 34,796 representing a 7pc increase of visitor per exhibitor. They have deduced that some £23BN was the combined spending power of those visitors and that three-quarters of those were there to find new products, services or technology. What’s more they represented 113 countries with 68.5pc of those coming from the UK. Impressive numbers for sure, I think the point is that these are calculated the same way as they have always done them so they are up on last year. Don’t forget that Ifsec moves to May next year so book your hotels now. The dates are still Tuesday to Thursday, May 19 to 21, 2020.
Sad news
It is with much sadness that I have to tell you that after a short illness Phillip Hagon, the Immediate Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and the head of security for Sainsbury’s for some ten years, passed away after a short illness. You may know that Phil spent some 33 years in the Met Police rising to the position of Commander. His wife Maggie and their two daughters Claire-Louise, and Sarah-Jane are being comforted by family and friends.
ST Ireland
As you read this hopefully you will be at one of our ST events in Ireland, we start off in Belfast on Tuesday, September 3, and will then move lock stock and CCTV cameras to Dublin to do it all again, on Thursday, September 5. Do come along and join us if you wish, and as with our events we will be holding a charity dinner the night before, a barbecue actually in Dublin. The following week we will be on the board the Dixie Queen presenting those Women in Security awards. Looks like we have some excellent nominations yet again and five deserving winners will walk away with their respective trophies. A busy month ahead and I hope to see you out on the road, or water! Whatever floats your boat, see what I did there!?!
