As July 2016 comes around, ITL is celebrating Group Technical Director, Peter Dunlop’s twentieth year at the company.
Peter first joined the company on a university placement year in 1995 and was assigned to work on a project to develop a new electronic chip for use in banknote validators. Peter impressed everyone to such an extent that he was invited back to join ITL full time after he had completed his final year of studies. Peter began in the Development team in Royton, which at the time comprised of exactly two people. As the Development department gradually grew over the years, Peter climbed his way up the ladder, eventually becoming Development Manager. Peter now presided over an expanded team of mechanical, electric and software engineers and held an extended set of responsibilities including the coordination of projects managing budgets, new product development as well as improving current marketing offerings.
In recent years, Peter has overseen ITL’s Research & Development in the more strategic position of Group Technical Director, a position he assumed earlier this year. He is now responsible for the group’s overall development strategy and technology roadmap. Peter has been key to ITL’s success and recent rapid growth due to his leadership ability and focus on data-driven products and services.
ITL has grown considerably since Peter joined 20 years ago and not only have staff numbers in the UK headquarters skyrocketed but a number of offices have now been established worldwide, including locations in Australia, China and the USA. ITL’s approach to its internship programme has changed considerably. The company now takes on a number of summer placements, year-in-industry and graduates. In addition to the improvements in infrastructure, Peter has supervised a number of technological innovations that has led ITL to be the provider of the most secure cash handling products in the world.
20 years of work can really take it out of you and to unwind away from the office, Pete can be found whiling away the hours on his boat that is moored at Abersoch in North Wales but has ventured out to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Peter’s boat isn’t just for relaxation purposes, he has competed in a number of races on the high seas and has even managed to win a couple!
ITL Chairman, David Bellis, said “I don’t really know what to say other than Pete is a truly great guy and it’s been a pleasure to watch him progress over the past 20 years and to now work together on the board. Pete’s ascent from student placement to Group Technical Director has been great to witness and attests to just how incredibly competent and capable he is as an engineer, manager and director.”