Locksmith andsecurity firm joinup in new deal

Roberto Fiorentino, CEO of Croma Security Solutions, and Mark Whettingsteel, executive director in charge of the new Locksmith Division

CSSG began 45 years ago as a small, family-run business, known as County Locksmiths in Shirley, Southampton. It was founded by locksmith Fernando Fiorentino who arrived in the city in the 1960s. CSSG now offers bespoke security systems including security and fire alarms, CCTV, access control, guarding and biometric identification.

It services major UK and international businesses, and is run by Fernando’s son Roberto Fiorentino.

Access Key & Lock, which also has its headquarters in Fareham, is an established locksmith founded by Mark Whettingsteel in 1998.

The business will now trade as Croma Locksmiths & Security Solutions across its seven outlets.

Mark has joined the board of CSSG and will run all locksmith operations for the group. He worked for CSSG under Fernando Fiorentino in 1985-1989 as a trainee locksmith, and decided to join forces with CSSG to drive further growth.

Mark Whettingsteel, executive director of CSSG said: ‘I’ve come full circle from being the most junior of trainees to the most senior as executive director in charge of the new enlarged locksmith division.

‘The coming together of two of the most respected regional security brands to form a formidable security company makes both logical and commercial sense allowing the divisions to concentrate on what they do best whilet offering a greater service across the region, we are now truly “The stand out security group”.’

Sebastian Morley, chairman of CSSG said: ‘We’re delighted to complete this acquisition. Access Key & Lock is a fantastic business with a great footprint along the South Coast.

It’ll help us attract and service large corporate clients in The South and, in due course, further afield.’

Access Key & Lock won Britain’s best security retailer every year from 2008 to 2011, and has been nominated again for 2016.

Croma Security Solutions Group PLC installs bespoke state-of-the-art security systems and provides guarding for government, FTSE 100 companies, small enterprises and private clients.