Netwatch Group’s board has appointed Kurt Takahashi as CEO, effective Jan. 4, 2021. Wendy Hamilton, who has led the group from Ireland through the COVID-19 disruption, is working with Takahashi to take over the reins of all business-related functions, including developing and executing strategy to grow Netwatch’s proactive video monitoring and contract monitoring services.

Takahashi recently held the position of CEO at Pelco Inc., a global provider in intelligent video solutions, where he led the transition from Schneider Electric to a fully independent Pelco, implementing their global strategy to assist in Pelco’s growth. In July of 2020, he led the sale of Pelco to Motorola Solutions. Previous to Pelco, Takahashi was the president of AMAG Technology, an end-to-end security management platform. At AMAG, his leadership transformed the company from being an access control-focused business into an open, innovative security management solution. Prior to AMAG, Takahashi was the vice president of global sales and marketing at Quantum Secure, a physical Identity and access management software provider, where he led sales, business development and marketing.  In 2015, Takahashi helped lead the sale of Quantum Secure to HID.

Hamilton, who led the search for an American based successor, said “It is great to have Kurt join the team. I firmly believe that having American based leadership is key to taking this Irish company to the next level in that market while I concentrate on building our presence in Europe as well as maintaining and enhancing our monitoring services to our customers.”

Speaking on his new position, Takahashi said, “I am honored and excited to lead the Netwatch Group.  Netwatch, NMC and CalAtlantic are innovative businesses that provide solutions and services that help a wide range of customers utilize technology to enhance their security risk profile. As well as European based services we can offer customers a fully American based monitoring service which many customers want.”

Martin Scott, chairman of Netwatch Group and partner at Riverside Europe, added, “We are delighted to welcome Kurt to the team. Despite the challenges of 2020 the company was able to maintain its vital service, protecting its customers by remotely guarding their buildings and people through its video monitoring technologies, fire life safety and intruder monitoring services. We would also like to thank Wendy Hamilton for her leadership of the company and fully respect her decision to bring in an American based successor. Indeed we welcome Wendy’s continued leadership in the Group as a senior member of the team and board member as she focuses on the Irish and U.K. markets and the monitoring operations of the group.”