VingCard Elsafe Appoints Bill Oliver as North American Vice President and General Manager

  • Jul 12, 2011

VingCard Elsafe, a provider of electronic locking, security and energy management solutions for the hospitality industry, and part of the ASSA ABLOY group, announced the appointment of William J. (Bill) Oliver as vice president and general manager, North America. In this newly created role, Oliver will be responsible for leading all sales and customer operations for VingCard Elsafe brands in the U.S. and Canada.

In collaboration with the executive management team, he will be responsible for supporting strategic sales efforts to expand these key markets and accelerate the company’s overall growth. In addition, he will head up initiatives to streamline customer operations and maximize customer satisfaction through enhanced service and support. The company’s brands include VingCard, electronic locking solutions, Elsafe digital in-room safes and Orion by VingCard Elsafe energy management systems.

"Bill is a seasoned hospitality professional who knows the business inside and out, having extensive experience in both hotel operations and the electronic hotel lock industry. With his knowledge and expertise, as well as an intense focus on customer operations, I am confident that he will help us to fortify our position as the global leader in hotel security technology, as well as establishing VingCard customer service as unmatched in the industry,” said Bob Aquilino, president for VingCard Elsafe.

Oliver’s appointment is part of a new organizational structure for the company, with a focus on improving customer service operations and fulfilling the rapidly changing technology needs of the global hospitality industry. He brings to his new corporate sales and operations experience, gained through senior leadership positions in diverse markets across the U.S. During his 27-year career, he also has managed a wide range of hotel properties, from premium-branded, full-service hotels and casino resorts to independent boutique hotels with prestigious groups such as Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Doubletree. In addition, he has held board of director level positions with various hotel/motel associations and regional Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

Before joining VingCard Elsafe, Oliver was founder and president of Evolve Hospitality Group, a hotel industry consultancy that assisted both global manufacturers and hospitality companies with business development, financial and operational improvements. Prior to that, he spent six years in the electronic locking and security technology industry with Onity Inc., serving as vice president of sales and operations for North America and EMEA, and later as vice president of global sales & marketing. Previous positions include senior management positions with hospitality organizations, such as Noble Investment Group, Winegardner & Hammons, Vista Host Inc. and Peabody Hotel Group.

Oliver holds a B.S. from the University of Florida. He will be based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Richardson, Texas.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.