Phil Tennent appointed international business development director at TDSi

Commenting on this development, John Davies (managing director of TDSi) observed: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Phil to the senior TDSi team. With a highly impressive track record of sales and business development, he’s the perfect person to lead our continued international growth at this exciting time as we embrace the considerable opportunities worldwide for growth following the pandemic.”

Reflecting upon his new role at TDSi, Tennent stated: “A number of factors drew me to this role, including the truism that TDSi is a British manufacturer with a strong back catalogue in terms of product, reputation, quality and longevity. This opportunity also presents me with a varied and challenging role involving international travel, and allows me to be part of a progressive business with a strong financial backing.”

Tennent added: “TDSI is well known and respected. The company commands trust and credibility in the market. There are great opportunities for organic growth. The business boasts a strong partner network, harbours a senior leadership team underpinned by high work ethics and family values and there’s a solid multifunctional team structure in place that’s designed to support new and existing business.”

The CV to date

Tennent began his career in the security industry back in the early 1990s with Norbain Electronics (as it was then known) as a field engineer before moving into a field sales role. He was introduced to TDSi in the mid-1990s when the company appointed Norbain as a distributor.

He then joined NICE Systems before being approached by Honeywell Security to head up the sales team for the UK and Europe’s video division. As a further venture, Tennent and his wife set up Marsolutions Language services for the technical sector as a family-run business before he then joined Pelco by Schneider Electric, enjoying varied roles with the company including director of distribution and strategic accounts for the EMEA region ahead of finishing his time there as regional sales director for Northern Europe.

Tennent firmly believes that TDSi has the perfect recipe to appeal to an international security audience. “Personally,” he continued, “I believe that the ‘Made in Britain’ flag carries a lot of weight on the international stage, especially so in the Middle East and Africa. In addition, TDSi has a good reputation in the market having been manufacturing access control products for the last 40 years.”

Further, Tennent noted: “Advances in technology and aligning with future market trends are going to be key factors when it comes to maintaining product relevance. With the combined forces of the parent VITAPROTECH Group, enhanced new product development and accelerated time to market will be very feasible. TDSi also enjoys strong partner relations with key industry leaders that enable systems to be fully integrated and supported.”

Working with Davies and the wider TDSi team, Tennent now aims to build solid demand creation routes via consultants and specifiers, developing effective tools with the marketing, technical and product management teams to support new target markets. TDSi will also continue to work alongside the UK Department of Trade and Industry to research growth countries.

Exciting times ahead

Tennent’s background also affords him excellent scope for his new role. Born in Wiltshire, he lived – and was schooled – near Cape Town in South Africa for five years and then lived and worked on the Costa Blanca in Spain for eight years. He’s also a Freeman of the City of London.

In conclusion, Tennent said: “I’m looking forward to working with the TDSi team in Poole, but also to visiting and meeting with existing clients and partners as well as opening up new countries and territories for the business. These are exciting times for TDSi, with a concerted move towards expanding in the North American markets along with continued growth in the Middle East and Asia.”

*For more information on TDSi and its products visit the website at www.tdsi.co.uk