Staff Bio
John D’Aprano, Chief Executive Officer
I started DS Security in 1993 after completing 10 years working for a small alarm installer in Surrey.
From a very early age I was very interested in electronics and gadgets and when I left school, I was lucky enough to get a job as a trainee with a security company in Surbiton. I thoroughly enjoyed my first job and I learnt so many new skills that have helped me in business to this day. I stayed at that company for 7 years, going from being a Trainee engineer right up to my final role there as the Senior Engineer.
The market and gadgets moved very fast at that time and I wanted to embrace the new technologies that had arrived. This is when I started out on my own and having a passion for Electronics, my training in Security and the desire to solve people’s problems, my fate was sealed!
My new company grew from strength to strength and it seemed to double in size every year. Whilst I now run the business rather than actually doing the site engineering, I am still very involved in the technology and I overview the details and appraisal testing that we do on any new equipment
I am proud to say that I still have customers today that I first met all those years ago when I started the
business.
Simon Lucas, Engineering Manager (PTI)
After attending an Adult Education Basic Electronics course whilst in my final years of school, I sought an industry where I could practice these skills. This led me to a 3 Year Apprenticeship Scheme with Chubb Security Systems, where after completion, I worked on their Post Office Counters projects. I briefly moved companies to diversify my product knowledge, before joining DS Security in 1996, helping to establish and grow the company to its present status within the Security Industry.
Terri Stewart, Finance Manager
My early career started off numerous years ago when ‘human resources’ was still called ‘personnel’ and I worked in that department for several years at a large
technology company. I then had the opportunity to become a section leader for the sponsorship department at the well-known charity, Save the Children. This role enabled me to work for a fantastic cause and marry the complexities of administering financial donations with the emotional attachment of supporting children in need. This kicked off my career in finance formally and I started studying for technical qualifications.
I joined the finance team at DS Security 15 years ago and now, as Finance Manager, I make sure the day to day accounting operation runs smoothly. In
addition to financial procedural knowledge, having a thorough understanding of our business is essential in my role, and over the years, I have got to know our
operation and many of our customers very well.
Sharon Meade, Senior Service Administrator
I began my career in the Security industry back in 1999 working for a small independent alarm company in Southfields. I learnt about different types of
Intruder systems and operation to enable me to assist clients remotely, also being responsible for the day to day running of the office. After several years, I
departed to further my career in other fields, eventually returning to the Security industry to this date where my current position is Senior Administrator /Service Co-Ordinator and assisting with HR duties within DS Security.
Stephen Smith, Chief Operating Officer
Stephen joined DS Security in October 2018 as Chief Operating Officer. He has over 25 years’ experience within the security sector and has held several senior positions. He specialises in client relations, surveillance technology, counter terrorism, risk mitigation, critical infrastructure protection, business development and strategy.
He applies robust managerial principles and business acumen to identify and target areas in need of improvement. He has strong leadership skills with the ability to identify, train, and develop future leaders. He’s diligent and passionate about empowering organisations with the use of technology and security
solutions that work.
Stephen was involved post Grenfell and was gold commander during the UK’s largest pre-war evacuation of five thousand London Borough of Camden’s residents. During his 10-year military career he served in several hostile environments, including Northern Ireland, Rwanda and Iraq.
In his younger days he represented Great Britain at both junior and senior levels of swimming, and successfully swam the English Channel.
Catherine Wood FCIPD, Group Human Resources Manager
My career in Human Resources Development commenced as a trainer when the retail giant, Next, started up their online division, The Next Directory.
With an established zest for training, I moved from the fashion industry to another passion, travel.
I worked for a large Tour Operator and trained their staff worldwide before settling as a Resort Manager in Spain and Portugal. Remaining in travel, I then became the Global Training Manager for the Swiss Air Group where I oversaw the training provision in their chain of international call centers.
Having acquired Charted Fellow status from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, I moved to take on the role of Group Human Resources
Manager at the DS Security Group. Here, we are constantly striving to be an employer of choice and attract the best people within the industry through offering great employment opportunities including continual training and development.
By ensuring our KPIs are aligned to business strategy, our technical and administrative teams are not only performing effectively for
current market needs but getting ready for the next level of innovation within our
industry.
Andrew Homewood, Service Manager
I have been working at DS Security for the past two years as Service Manager and find that this is by far the most challenging and rewarding job role I have had to date.
After 20 years working in the industry as a Security Engineer, I became technically proficient on a vast range of access control and CCTV systems. Having worked in varied environments from airports to retail, and covering both service and installation work, I was ready for my next challenge. Managing a team of service engineers is a great role for me as it allows me to share my technical experience as well as ensuring that all customers receive the service they expect. The days are always different, and we constantly strive to ensure that we achieve our service levels through efficient planning and communication.
I look forward to the future with the DS Security Group as the company stays at the forefront of the latest technology, so I know that my skills will always remain current.
Jarrod Cubiss, Installation Supervisor
I started out as a Security Engineer in a small town in South Africa where we would look after residential and small businesses in and around the area. In 2014
I immigrated to the United Kingdom and started my journey with DS Security as an installation engineer, In the five years that I have proudly worked for DS I
have not only grown as an engineer but also as a person and I am now responsible for our fantastic installation team.