Nevadatele.com, the business telecommunications and Internet company, has suffered a staffing blow prior to the company's move to an all-Ireland basis next week. Four of the company's top Internet security specialists have resigned to found an Internet security services firm called Celare, based in Belfast.
The new company is headed by Nevadatele.com's former business development manager Mr John Morrow and three other senior employees, Mr Conrad Simpson, Mr Darren Craig and Mr John Bodels.
Mr Craig and Mr Bodels joined Nevadatele.com from Ulster Bank, where they worked as security analysts. Mr Morrow and Mr Simpson joined Nevadatele.com when the Viridian subsidiary acquired Creative On Line Media.Com last year. Mr Morrow said he had seen demand grow for the full range of security services as companies aimed to take advantage of ecommerce.
He said Celare would position itself as an Internet security services company aiming to integrate leading security products into corporations' existing networks.
"We will try to simplify the security process and make it more practical for businesses. Security is a business issue and should not just be the domain of an IT manager," he said.
The company would use "best of breed" products and focus on professional service companies within the legal, accounting and financial services industry, he added.
Celare has been founded with the backing of the four founding members and a financial institution. It aims to employ about 20 staff within 12 months. As spokesman for Nevadatele.com said that the Celare move would not have any effect on the company's security or e-commerce business, and that several senior appointments had been made in the area.
Nevadatele.com is a Northern Ireland-based company formed in May 1999 as a joint venture between Viridian and Energis. Following its acquisition of Dublin-based Stentor Communications for £46 million (€58.4 million) in July, the company recently announced plans to operate on an all-Ireland basis.
The company is due to introduce its all-Ireland service next week, with former Stentor chief executive, Mr Gerard O'Keeffe, as managing director for the Republic. The company currently employs more than 130 people.
