Andrew Melvin has joined security risk contract company Pilgrims Group, as Business Development Director (UK).
This appointment follows a 21 year career with the police and 12 years in the private security sector. He was Commercial Director at The Shield Guarding Company. He is a trustee of the Cross-sector Safety & Security Communications (CSSC) charity, a legacy project of the London 2012 Olympic Games. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD).
Andrew, pictured, will be developing the company’s domestic business and to grow its manned guarding service in the UK. Andrew says: “I have a passionate belief in the provision of professional, high quality security services through a specialised security company which is not too large and impersonal. Several large companies now dominating the market offer a range of other activities, such as cleaning and catering, which I believe dilutes the focus on security.
“Pilgrims provides one of the broadest range of services in this single specialist sector, delivering comprehensive security risk management. The company is completely dedicated to the provision of professional security within the UK and internationally. It has a highly experienced management team from backgrounds that include military, policing and intelligence services. I am looking forward to working closely with the team and building Pilgrims Group’s presence in the UK.”
And the company’s Managing Director, Bill Freear, said: “We have been looking for very long time to discover someone with his talents. We have long had the product and track record but needed the final piece in the puzzle which was someone to ‘lead the charge’. Andrew has all the essential ingredients to fit into the Pilgrims team and present our services to the domestic market. We have large ambitions to grow our manned guarding service, which offers so many opportunities for our clients in the coming months and years.”
Meanwhile Pilgrims has appointed Jeremy Spring as Chief Finance Officer. Chief Operating Officer, David Freear, said: “We are thrilled that Jeremy has joined the company and excited to add such financial expertise to our senior management team to create, support and drive the strategy of the business.”
Jeremy said: “Pilgrims has grown significantly in the last five years, establishing itself as a trusted industry partner. Through proven expert delivery of high quality services and prioritisation of customer service, the group is looking to build on its phenomenal reputation and I am overjoyed to be joining at such an exciting time in the company’s life.”
A member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Jeremy arrives at Pilgrims having spent more than 15 years in the international customer services’ industry, most recently working for a multi-national corporation.
About Pilgrims Group
The company provides manned guarding and intelligence services for businesses across the UK, including pharmaceutical, media and oil and gas clients. The company also operates in countries including Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Ukraine and has helped clients in international crises, including the 2013’s tropical storm in the Philippines and the disasters in New Orleans and Haiti.
Visit www.pilgrimsgroup.com.
