SecureData plots way forward

By Siyabonga Africa for SecureData
Johannesburg, 13 Feb 2009

SecureData Holdings is looking to strengthen its business and raise profits, while still maintaining high revenue, amid a recent management shake-up.

The company's CEO, Dean Brazier, says he will not change the security company's strategy, despite the departure of former COO and MD Brett Parker. Parker left the company in the midst of a storm, having been suspended by Brazier and awaiting a disciplinary hearing. He later resigned.

“The way forward is that I have appointed Tony Nutter as the interim MD and I am confident he is the right man to do what needs to be done,” says Brazier.

He points out that Nutter managed to turn around one of SecureData's floundering businesses while in charge of interests outside of SA.

Two more 'resign'

SecureData has also made unspecified managerial changes which, Brazier says, will not change the company's strategy to grow its business.

Unnamed sources allege two executive members followed Parker when he resigned. Media reports say marketing director Gretha Cockeran and the company's services director Phil Allock also left the company under a cloud.

Nutter would not go into details of the resignations, but he did acknowledge that some staff left the company and says the vacant positions have already been filled.

Qualm-free

Despite the recent negative press coverage the company received, Brazier believes the whole situation is not as sensational as the media has reported.

The CEO, who's overseeing an acquisition in the UK, says all in the company are on board with Parker's resignation.

“The majority of our shareholders understand the decision and they have no qualms with it,” says Brazier. “We're very confident about the future. We have a good franchise and we have shown growth as a distributor of security products with the last few months of last year being the only negative factors.”

Brazier is adamant Parker's resignation is an internal affair and media reports stating theories about witch-hunts in the company are “wild speculations and fantasies”.