A letter sent to First’s blue chip client base suggests that Levine’s move coincides with his desire to “pursue other interests”. There are already strong rumours circulating to suggest that Levine will re-emerge in the guarding market at some point in the near future.
According to a First Security spokesperson, there are no immediate plans to replace Levine, whose day-to-day responsibilities will now be shared by the remaining members of the Board. “This announcement in no way affects our commitment to our customers, whose day-to-day contacts remain in place,” said operations director Graham Cornwell.
Levine led a successful management buy-out of the company in 1998 before putting plans in place that saw turnover double from GB pound 14 million to just over GB pound 35 million before the end of 2002.
In September 2005, Levine and sales director David Mundell were behind First Security’s launch of a Specialist Services Division to provide a range of specific, value-added services that would complement its core security guarding capabilities. The service now offers clients (including Barclays Capital, Clifford Chance, Euronext.LIFFE, HSBC, Jones Lang LaSalle, City University, the Prudential, the Royal Opera House, Save the Children, Societe Generale, Somerset House Trust, Sony (UK), the South Bank Centre and Swiss Re) everything from close protection services and close escort provision through to the deployment of electronic surveillance, tracking and remote monitoring via dedicated IP-based systems. In January this year, the Division launched a new IP-based remote monitoring facility to augment the company’s core security guarding capability.
The facility takes maximum advantage of the latest computer and Local Area Network (LAN) technologies such that clients can see, control and record activity on their site(s) via CCTV remote monitoring. The IP base means that there’s no reliance on proprietary platforms, allowing monitoring via laptop computers from any location. The philosophy is very much about proactive remote monitoring.
Levine has been a staunch supporter of regulation and licensing, with First Security being listed among the inaugural batch of companies to have Approved Contractor Scheme status bestowed by the Regulator.
