The Infologue.com Newsmaker behind the acquisition of Temple Security was the Axis CEO Jonathan Levine. Levine told Infologue.com “Clients work with Axis because of the quality of our delivery but we have not previously been able to extend that offering outside of London and the South East because we did not have the infrastructure to cope,” he says. “The merger with Temple Security not only gives us this network overnight, but it also has the added attraction of an electronic security business that brings further capability to the service we can offer.”
Levine, a Yorkshireman graduating from Leeds University with a degree in Economics and Management, Jonathan Levine started his career as a management trainee for Marks & Spencer in 1973. Leaving after seven years to join The Ryman Group of Companies, he was approached by Reliance Group in 1986 to embark on a new career in the private security industry.
With Reliance he was appointed Board Director and South East Divisional Director, and was later responsible for establishing the Group’s aviation security division. Joining First Security, then part of Orbis PLC, Jonathan led the Management Buy-out in 1998. After the MBO, Jonathan successfully steered the business through a period of unprecedented growth, reaching a turnover in excess of £55 million with a team of more than 2000 officers and some of the City’s most sought-after contracts.
Leaving First Security after its sale to Interserve, Jonathan was approached by Sovereign Capital to spearhead its investment in Axis Security, developing a buy and build strategy to expand the company’s core competencies and national footprint. The acquisition of Temple Security is the first stage of this plan, with Jonathan as Chief Executive of the new merged business.
Infologue.com Newsmaker Series identifies individuals from the security sector who have made news headlines for the right reasons. At the end of each year the editor of Infologue.com will select the Newsmaker of the Year.