Roy's Monthly Gossip

WiS and ST21 Belfast

by Mark Rowe

Here we are in October already. I write having just got back to my desk to bring you the latest gossip. I am busy trying to catch my breath as we have had a few events in the first half of September. Women in Security (WiS) was a great night, the venue was superb, the awards went to some very worthy winners, the food was excellent and the band brilliant, if you missed it then take a look at the pictures in our gallery and read page 22.

I left London to fly to Belfast for our ST event there. Sadly we were unable to open the event with a fly-by from the Red Arrows as they did at the defence show DSEI over London Docklands; obviously better connected than me! It was very strange jumping on a plane which was something I used to do a lot of as you know. Northern Ireland had still got in place a lot of covid restrictions such as social distancing, the wearing of masks and allowing up to 50pc occupancy at venues; this meant we had to reduce the networking dinner to just 60 people.

However those of you that attended raised just short of £2,000 for the meningitis charity as nominated by Brian and John from BT. Thank you all for the generous donations. The next day saw many installers and security managers and others join us to walk around the exhibition (pictured) and for some it was the first time they had ventured out since the start of the pandemic. I’m pleased we were able to bring you your first experience. As they say onwards and upwards, next stop ST Glasgow, networking dinner on Monday, October 4, and the show on Tuesday, October 5; see you all there. Sign up at the Security TWENTY part of the website.

Let’s talk about those that have been moving around. Mark Wall and his loud shirts after some time of teasing everyone on linkedin has gone to work for Amberstone. So you could say poacher turned gamekeeper, we wish him all the best and they are certainly a good company to be working for.

Simon Green has joined door entry firm Comelit as their UK Sales Director, so that’s another poacher turned gamekeeper as Simon had gone to work for an installer as you may know. In a career spanning more than 25 years in the security industry and with 15 in senior leadership positions, Simon has had roles with global companies, including Prosegur, Bosch Security & Safety Systems and Genie CCTV Ltd. I hope that Simon stills has his “baldy helmet” that I gave hime some years ago while he was at Genie as I know the lights in the new offices in Luton are very bright. “Baldy Helmet?” you ask. Now I have already told you the story on my gossip about that so I am not going to do so again, if you want to know you need to ask Simon what that’s all about!

Eagle Eye Networks have taken on Simon Cook as Director of Sales Engineering in EMEA. Simon is based in the UK, and brings more than 20 years of experience in technical pre-sales, with the last 15 of those in the security industry: at QCIC, Genetec and Axis. His focus will be to continue the growth of the SE team to ensure customers and partners get the best possible service and experience.

Ashley Wyton has joined Veracity as Group Sales Director, with a focus on the firm’s relationships with security system integrators and installers and managing the worldwide distribution network, outside of North America. Alastair McLeod, Veracity’s Chairman and CEO, says: “Ashley brings over 18 years of international security sector experience, where he has held a number of senior commercial roles with companies such as FLIR, Honeywell and Comelit Group. Ashley will work closely with me and the rest of Veracity’s management and expert staff to develop, support and extend the reach of our global business activities, building and growing long-term sales channels in both mature and developing markets.”

Milestone Systems has appointed Christina Molt Wengel as Chief Marketing Officer responsible for Global Marketing, as per September 15, 2021. Christina has expertise in commercial strategy and marketing from senior leadership roles when leading companies in life science. She joins from Centaflow where she was the Chief Commercial Officer.

Phil Ridgeon has joined CSE Chatterbox as business development manager after five years at NetVu and ten years at Vigilant. Phil even worked for Gyyr at one time; whatever happened to them I wonder?

On to acquisitions:

Carrier has agreed to sell its Chubb Fire & Security business to APi Group Corporation, for an enterprise value of $3.1 billion. APi makes intelligent building and cold chain. Carrier says that the sale enables Carrier to focus on its core businesses and to re-allocate net proceeds consistent with its stated capital allocation priorities, including funding organic and inorganic growth, dividends, and share repurchases within a solid investment grade credit rating.

HID Global has acquired Omni-ID, a manufacturer of RFID tags and industrial IoT devices for tagging, tracking, monitoring and alerting use. HID, part of the multi-national security manufacturer ASSA ABLOY Group, says that this adds to the firm in RFID technology and to its presence in India and China.

Valsoft Corporation (Valsoft) has acquired UK-based alarm monitoring platform firm Bold Communications. Valsoft is based in Montreal, Canada and specialises in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses. This follows Valsoft’s recent acquisition of Innovative Business Systems (Innovative), which provides security technology in the Nordic region and a member of MIT Group, an operating portfolio within Valsoft with core interests in the security, aviation and EHSQ verticals. Bold Communications develops alarm communications and management systems for the alarm central station and ARC markets.

WorkWave, provider of SaaS (software as a service) have agreed to acquire TEAM Software (used to be Innovise) the software firm for cleaning, janitorial, security, and facilities management service providers. The acquisition is expected to close at the end of September. WorkWave says the acquisition will increase its involvement with these industries, and their footprint overseas (outside the US).

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