Pete Browitt

Gary Craig has been appointed as Sales Director at global fire protection company, Advanced, further strengthening its senior leadership team. A known figure in the fire industry, Gary has spent the past 35 years working in the fire safety sector and has held leadership positions at several major product manufacturers. In his new role at Advanced, Gary will be responsible for accelerating growth in both UK and international markets and will also focus on refining the customer experience. In pursuing these goals, Gary will build on Advanced’s core values and its reputation for manufacturing robust and reliable fire protection products trusted for their performance, quality and ease of use. Focus on digital connectivity and cloud-based platforms Gary said: “Advanced’s track record within the industry is second to none, and I am excited by the opportunity of building on the huge success already enjoyed by the company to help take Advanced to the next level of growth. I look forward to working with each member of the sales team to build on these foundations. They all have great breadth of knowledge and experience and are well respected by our customers, specifiers and end users." “A key focus for me will be developing new markets and channels whilst constantly striving to ensure we deliver the best customer experience at every point. Accelerated new product development and a focus on digital connectivity and cloud-based platforms stand to keep Advanced in a strong position at the forefront of our industry.” Advanced’s Managing Director, Pete Browitt, said: “Gary is an excellent addition to our leadership team and his appointment will, without doubt, bring value and momentum to the strategic direction of the business. His strong background in sales and the fire industry, coupled with his international focus and expertise will help accelerate our future growth.”

A North East-based fire system manufacturer appoints its first Head of Digital, as it looks to realize the full potential of connectivity. Global systems provider, Advanced, designs, manufactures and supplies fire alarm control panels to over 80 countries across the globe from its headquarters in Newcastle. Christina Brugger joins Advanced as Head of Digital from the manufacturer’s FTSE 100 parent company, Halma PLC, where she helped various teams with developing digital business models, customer validation, pitching and execution. Several Cloud-Based Projects As a company we are looking to realize the full potential of digital connectivity" In her new role, Christina will oversee the development of several cloud-based projects to accelerate Advanced’s digital growth strategy. In leading the ‘commercial investigation’ for these projects, Christina’s role will touch almost all areas of the business, working closely with the products, technical support and sales teams to ensure a thorough market and customer understanding. Managing Director at Advanced, Pete Browitt, said: “As a company we are looking to realize the full potential of digital connectivity, Christina’s experience of working with various cloud-based platforms and innovation processes will significantly increase the knowledge and understanding of a digital approach for Advanced.” Cloud-Connected Fire Panel The newly created role comes as Advanced prioritizes its digital offering, which includes its first cloud-connected fire panel, the Go1, and its complete solution for remote management and servicing of the fire system, that is also set to significantly simplify on-site interaction, DynamixLive. Both products are due for launch in 2020. I’m thrilled to be joining Advanced at such a pivotal time in the company’s history" Christina said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Advanced at such a pivotal time in the company’s history. Understanding our customers’ different personas, their pain points, and what drives them to make decisions is key to delivering the best possible solutions for the market. Few manufacturing companies are this customer focussed, and I am lucky to be working with a team with such significant knowledge and expertise in working with cloud technology.” False Alarm Management Systems Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, protects all manner of prestigious and high-profile sites across the globe, from London’s Shard and the Savoy Hotel to Abu Dhabi International Airport and Las Vegas’ Golden Nugget Casino. Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Advanced is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products see Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

Global fire systems provider, Advanced, has appointed Joe Leiserach to the role of Operations Director to support the business following a period of significant growth. Employing around 200 staff, Advanced designs, manufactures and supplies fire alarm control panels to over 80 countries across the globe from its headquarters in Newcastle. Active fire protection In his new role, Joe will work alongside the senior leadership team at Advanced to deliver on the business’ objectives, uniting teams across the production line, engineering, planning and facilities, enabling improvements to quality, productivity and efficiency in order to increase opportunities for growth in both UK and export markets. Joe joins the North East-based manufacturer from Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd where he was responsible for the management and delivery of cutting-edge, bespoke engineering projects.Joe will work alongside the senior leadership team at Advanced to deliver on the business’ objectives Advanced recently relocated its headquarters from four separate sites in Cramlington to one, 48,000 sq. ft base in Balliol Business Park, Longbenton in order to satisfy increasing UK and international demand from customers for its active fire protection products. State-of-the-art manufacturing facility Joe said, “On a personal level joining Advanced at this exciting time for the organization is a real privilege. With the support and expertise of the 90 strong, highly skilled team in Operations, our priority will be to maintain and enhance the control processes; delivering performance and quality of our life safety products.” “We’re tremendously fortunate to now have a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility from where we conduct our business operations and it’s really important that this investment is utilised effectively to achieve the best possible quality and productivity. I look forward to adding real value, building strategic partnerships and implementing bold strategies to take us to the next level.” Positive influence Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, protects some of the world’s most prestigious and high-profile sites across the globe, from Western Europe’s tallest building, the Shard to Abu Dhabi International Airport and operates from bases across the UK, US, India and Dubai. Pete Browitt, Managing Director at Advanced, added, “I am delighted to be able to welcome Joe Leiserach to Advanced. Joe brings to the senior leadership team a raft of experience and strengths in areas that are key to us as a growing manufacturer and I have already witnessed the positive influence he is exerting, not only on his team in Operations, but the entire business. Our new headquarters is a fantastic place to work and is somewhere that, with Joe on board, we should be able to grow for many years to come.”

Global fire and life safety company, Advanced, has appointed a new business manager to support the growth of its emergency lighting business. Matt Jones joins Advanced from his role as product manager at Apollo Fire Detectors. In his new role, Matt will leverage Advanced’s strong reputation in the fire industry to tap into new emergency lighting markets and grow the LuxIntelligent and EasySafe brands. LuxIntelligent control panels LuxIntelligent is an addressable automatic test system that examines all emergency lighting to check it is compliant and functioning or, in the event of a failure, provides accurate maintenance guidance without the need for manual intervention. The system can be integrated with almost any type of light, offers a host of unique technical features and proves compliance with BS 5266. EasySafe is a new range of addressable emergency luminaires and exit signs that work with LuxIntelligent panels EasySafe is a new range of addressable, low-voltage emergency luminaires and exit signs that work with LuxIntelligent control panels and can be installed and maintained without the need for a qualified electrician. EasySafe low voltage emergency lights Matt said, “In the fire industry, Advanced is synonymous with performance, quality and ease of use, a reputation I want to mirror across our emergency lighting portfolio. We have a strong presence in the UK with plenty of growth potential, but we also aim to maximize the opportunity to expand globally as we have done with our fire products.” Pete Browitt, Managing Director at Advanced, said “We’re introducing further innovative products to our emergency lighting product line, the imminent launch of our EasySafe low voltage emergency lights will establish us as the only manufacturer to enable the use of both low and high voltage lights on the same loop. The addition of Matt to the team means we are now in a strong position to be able to drive our solution forward in key markets.” Fire detection and intelligent fire systems expert Advanced serves around 80 countries from bases in the UK and around the world and, in 2018, consolidated its operations to one, 48,000 sq ft base in Newcastle Upon Tyne to meet growing domestic and international demand for its products. Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 Company, Halma PLC, has its emergency lighting solutions installed in a number of high-profile sites across the UK, from Cambridge University to Knightsbridge’s Berkeley Hotel. Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Advanced is a globally renowned company in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. Advanced’s reputation for performance, quality and ease of use see its products specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

North-East manufacturer, Advanced, has made a £1million investment in its corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant in North Tyneside.  The investment includes manufacturing facility improvements, equipment and an office design project that has delivered state-of-the-art offices, communications technology and social facilities to create new capacity and an engaging, modern office environment. Commercial fire detection systems specialist The investment comes as Advanced, a global provider of commercial fire alarm and detection systems, relocates from four separate sites in Nelson Industrial Estate, Cramlington to one, 48,000 sq. ft base in Balliol Business Park, Longbenton. The move is essential to satisfy increasing UK and international demand from customers for its life safety products. Advanced has created a collaborative, dynamic environment designed to deliver the best in organizational culture Working alongside Morpeth architecture and interior design firm, Seymour Architecture, Advanced has created a collaborative, dynamic environment designed to deliver the best in organizational culture. The installation of technologies such as state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities and task-focused workspaces, enable the business to optimize communications across seven bases located in the UK, US, India and Middle East and with customers and partners in 80 countries around the globe. Climate control and sensor lighting The move to Balliol by Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 PLC Halma, has created the opportunity to improve production processes and identify new technologies that will facilitate a reduction of energy consumption and environmental impact. These include; climate control cooling, sensor lighting, water reduction and energy recovery initiatives, to make the business more sustainable going forward. The firm expects to see job openings across the business in the near future as they establish themselves in their new home of North Tyneside. Pete Browitt, Managing Director at Advanced, said: “This investment represents a key milestone for Advanced. We are proud to manufacture all of our products in the North East where our new facility offers real competitive advantage across our manufacturing operations and our new facilities are some of the best I have ever seen. Our new site is an exceptional place to work and is already delivering significant benefits across departments.” Intelligent fire systems leader Advanced is a provider in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large, multi-site networks in some of the world’s most prestigious sites including the Shard in London, Western Europe’s tallest building. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, extinguishing control panels, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

Pete joins Advanced from Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd, where he held the senior positions of Global Finance Director and EMEA Operations Director, managing a manufacturing and supply chain organisation of almost 400 people in Havant, UK. Working previously within Advanced owner Halma PLC’s fold, Pete also worked as Global Finance Director of Avire, and spent 13 years at 3M in various financial and operational roles. Pete said: “It’s a real pleasure to lead such an outstanding business. Since joining Advanced I’ve been struck by the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of the staff here who have all been instrumental in the opening of our new headquarters at Balliol Business Park, North Tyneside, which marks the start of an important new phase in the growth of our company. We are in an excellent position to continue to drive Advanced forward and enjoy an outstanding track record of success in the future.” Vast Industry Experience Pete succeeds Ray Hope, Managing Director of Advanced, as he retires after 19 successful years and a long and distinguished career in the fire industry. Ray will continue to have an advisory role within Halma for the next year, sharing his vast industry experience and knowledge and supporting owner the parent company’s ambitious growth and acquisition plans. Advanced services around 80 countries from bases in the UK, US, India and Dubai and recently relocated from four separate sites in Northumberland to one, 48,000 sq ft base in North Tyneside.