Transaction Network Services (UK) Ltd (TNS), one of the UK's largest providers of card transaction services, has appointed Richard Collins as sales director for new business to spearhead the company's drive into the UK retail sector.
Richard will be responsible for growing the company's card-based transaction products and services across the UK retail market. He will also be responsible for developing sales of TNS' vending offering and Mobile Transaction Terminal (MTT) - a Chip & PIN-enabled mobile PoS device that will be supported by the TNS infrastructure.
Richard brings 18 years experience in business processing and outsourcing to TNS and joins from Direct Group Ltd, where he was a sales director and shareholder, contributing to the company's inclusion in the Virgin Atlantic Fastest Growing 100 companies for three consecutive years. Prior to this, he was general manager at AON Warranty.
Ray Low, senior vice-president and UK managing director says, "We're delighted that Richard is joining TNS. Richard has a wealth of experience and a strong sales background making him a valuable addition to our business. Richard is among a number of recent key appointments that we have made to augment our growing team, attracting talented individuals who will play a pivotal role in our expansion in 2005."
Commenting on his appointment, Richard adds, "With retailers awakening to the benefits of broadband and network technology, this is the ideal time to help position TNS as the innovative and technically superior leader in the retail transactions market.
"UK retail has high expectations and, rightly so, is making tough demands on all of its partners," continues Richard. "Speed, reliability, security and cost are crucial concerns for companies evaluating their transactions infrastructure. Retailers facing many new transaction challenges, such as Chip and PIN, loyalty schemes and more, are looking to TNS to help them capitalise on these developments by providing the right transaction technology for them."
Richard's appointment follows the launch of TNS' fully managed DSL service for retailers, which enables the consolidation of all communications over TNS' privately owned network, completely avoiding the public Internet. Every day, TNS helps companies such as Barclaycard Business, Northern Rock Building Society, Rosebys, Sainsbury's and Majestic Wine Warehouses to capture, validate, authorise and process millions of payment transactions.
Richard lives in Leeds with his wife. In his spare time he enjoys playing tennis, keeping fit and motorbike track days.