By Type: News

Board Names Kevin McKenna as Next CEO

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Author: Kathryn Olivier

ADDISON, Texas, May 24, 2018 – Authentix® announced today that Kevin McKenna will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer effective May 29, 2018. Kevin succeeds Bernard C. Bailey who will continue to serve Authentix as Chairman of the Board. McKenna joined the Company’s executive team in 2012 and has served in various capacities touching all Authentix markets as President of Oil and Gas as well as General Manager of the Brand and Currency and Tax Stamp businesses. He most recently served as the Chief Sales and Services Officer responsible for global sales and all customer engagements. He has been a key contributor to the successful growth and subsequent sale of Authentix to Blue Water Energy, a London-based private equity firm, in September 2017.
“For more than 20 years, Authentix has provided advanced solutions to combat illicit trade across the globe. It is a great honor to now lead Authentix in the next phase of our growth as we look to advance our world-class authentication solutions into new markets and next generation technologies,” said Kevin McKenna. “We have an exceptionally talented team at Authentix that is focused on unlocking future growth opportunities while being committed to our existing customers’ success. I am incredibly optimistic about our future.”

Prior to Authentix, McKenna held executive management roles within the information technology and security industries at HID Global and L-1 Identity Solutions. He began his career with IBM Global Services, serving in a variety of consulting and program management positions.

Bailey commented, “Kevin’s breadth of experience, coupled with his deep understanding of our global customers and markets make him a superb choice for leading Authentix moving forward. His vision, strategic insights and execution track record are exactly what Authentix needs as we enter into our next chapter, which I am confident will be even more impactful and exciting than our last.”

After earning his undergraduate degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, McKenna served as an officer in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot. He also holds an advanced degree in engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla.
“I am honored to lead Authentix as CEO and advance our growth strategy into new geographic markets, market sectors, and next generation technologies,” said Kevin McKenna. “I would like to thank the board of directors, Blue Water Energy, and the Authentix employees for their confidence and trust. We have an exceptionally talented team at Authentix that is focused on unlocking future growth opportunities and committed to our customers’ success. I am incredibly optimistic about our future.”

About Authentix

Authentix, a leading global authentication and information services company, assists customers in combating illicit trade and managing the integrity of their global supply chains. With comprehensive end-to-end authentication solutions we help safeguard customers in refined fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel, lubes, and LPG) and branded products (e.g., pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and spirits industries) from counterfeiting, product theft, product diversion, and adulteration. In addition, we help protect currencies for many leading central banks.

Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in the US, UK, UAE, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.authentix.com

Frost & Sullivan Awards Authentix with the Authentication Solutions Technology Leadership Award

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Author: Kathryn Olivier

By: Mohamed Lazzouni, COO, Authentix

Remember as kids the excitement you felt upon receiving a blue ribbon or trophy from sports or an art or science project? Your parents would post it on the refrigerator and tell everyone how proud they are of you. That’s how I felt upon learning that the prestigious Frost & Sullivan research firm presented Authentix with the North American Authentication Solutions Technology Leadership Award. In that excitement, I immediately recognized that the award itself takes on a different meaning.

For more than 20 years, Authentix has proudly supported a global customer base in combating illicit trade and counterfeit practices. Frost & Sullivan is diligent in their research to identify those companies exemplifying best practices in the development and delivery of technology. The technology leadership award recognizes the transition Authentix is leading toward incorporating more IoT and Big Data analytics within authentication technologies.

According to Frost & Sullivan, “The company’s solutions capitalize on the evolution of Mega Trends such as Internet of Things, Big Data analytics and supply chain integration to thwart counterfeiting measures. This integration enables the company to build and implement robust, end-to-end authentication solutions to help each customer recover lost revenues and protect brand equity.”

Full transparency, it is rewarding to know that the hard work of all Authentixians is front and center for others to witness. Just as relevant is the spotlight being shined on a greater cause – the charge against illicit trade.

The Core of Authentix Comes to Life

Like many organizations, we have our core values that drive how we engage internally and externally. I am most proud of this team because those values come to life with such recognition. This Frost & Sullivan technology award symbolizes validation of our strategy in the authentications market.

All employees seek to focus on the following core values:
Teaming and Collaboration
Advancing Science
Dedication to Client Success
Competing and Winning

This third party validation imparts depth to those value statements that demonstrate more than words on paper. We are laser focused on creating a path where our clients have visibility to their supply chain to efficiently address illicit activity. While the Authentication Solutions Technology Leadership Award speaks to how we are advancing science to create successful outcomes for our clients around the world, I know that this award also demonstrates a group of people who respect and trust each other enough to innovate for a greater good.

Recognition for a Greater Cause

To have Frost & Sullivan acknowledge that Authentix offers leading authentication technology touching across multiple industries is one thing. To also have confirmation that our strategy and execution in the marketplace is meaningful toward a social good is even better.
Oftentimes, this activity is funding organized crime or terrorist groups. In the oil and gas market, we are helping companies fight against fuel smuggling, adulteration or dilution, which can impact the environment and ultimately people’s health. So, this award also confirms that our focus on innovation is contributing to a larger platform that encompasses protection for the health and well-being of the environment and all who inhabit it.

Thank you to Employees and Customers

Yes, our employees carry the brunt of this accomplishment. But, we can’t ignore the greatest collaboration effort with existing customers. Illicit trade is a huge and sometimes dangerous global problem eating away at billions of dollars of lost revenue for many governments and companies. We are very grateful to have a customer voice moving our technology forward because they too recognize a bigger issue.

Every day we enter our doors with the intent to make a difference. We want to make a difference for our customers. We want to make a difference in the lives of our fellow employees. More importantly, we want our solutions to make a difference within the communities around the world.

The North American Authentication Solutions Technology Leadership Award from Frost & Sullivan is one more proof point that our suite of authentication solutions protecting fuel quality for national governments or oil marketing companies, banknotes and commercial brand products is making a difference to stop illicit trade.

Frost & Sullivan Applauds Authentix’s Impressive Authentication Technology Portfolio that Combats Illicit Trade

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Author: Kathryn Olivier

Authentix harnesses the latest technological trends to present market-focused, adaptable authentication solutions for a customer’s specific market

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — July 11, 2017 — Based on its recent analysis of the authentication solutions market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Authentix, Inc. with the 2017 North American Technology Leadership Award. Authentix’s portfolio of advanced authentication solutions supports companies in combating illicit trade and counterfeiting practices. The company’s solutions capitalize on the evolution of Mega Trends such as Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analytics, and supply chain integration technologies to thwart counterfeiting measures. Authentix employs a lock-and-key approach, wherein physical devices are paired with proprietary chemical markers, creating offerings that deliver robust, data-driven authentication solutions helping customers recover lost revenues and protect brand equity.

Click here to view the multimedia release.

“Authentix seeks to aid customers with their transition to more IoT-based operations by capturing data at each point in the authentication process to ensure that any enforcement actions are based on secure and accurate information. This starts when authentication markers are applied to products and continues when markers are tested for or scanned in the field or at a laboratory as the product moves through a supply chain. The results of these tests and scans aggregate into a single data platform for easy verification,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Danielle VanZandt. “With Authentix’s solutions, customers can monitor their supply chain interactions, identify potential areas of vulnerability, and receive actionable insights, facilitating proactive decision-making to mitigate illicit trade.”

Authentix remains the only end-to-end authentication solution provider for fuel supply protection, combining the devices and covert markers with the Authentix Information System (AXIS®) and comprehensive Authentix services and support. The company also has a robust portfolio of proprietary authentication solutions for major industry verticals:

• Vigilant™: Authentix’s flagship, this authentication solution protects national fuel supplies globally. The solution helps governments and in-country fuel suppliers fight fuel dilution, smuggling, tax evasion, and illicit trade. Vigilant recaptures valuable fuel excise tax revenues for government customers, ensures top fuel quality for citizens and the environment, and creates a level playing field for all participants in a country’s fuel market.

• Jewel™: This solution allows Authentix to partner with global central banks to protect and authenticate banknotes. The Jewel optical markers, read with its high-speed sensor technology, can be easily integrated with any banknote design and deployed on high-speed note sorters to validate the authenticity of individual banknotes. Additionally, Authentix provides implementation services in tandem with banks to ensure a seamless transition.

• Sherlox™: Sherlox is Authentix’s brand protection solution. Validated with a proprietary handheld reader and cloud technology, Sherlox utilizes covert markers to enable in-field authentication instantaneously through smart mobile devices during brand audits.

• Assure™: Assure is the company’s proprietary fuel brand marking solution. Assure helps major, global oil marketing companies provide consumers with the fuel product quality they pay for and to guarantee that specific fuel additive treat rates are accurate.

“With the success of its solutions, Authentix continues to grow within mature markets. Its deep and rich experience and industry knowledge allow it to showcase the value of its authentication solutions and the ways in which they can generate a rapid return on investment,” noted VanZandt. “Leveraging trusted customer relationships and continuously focusing on the customer’s needs will win Authentix significant customer and revenue growth over the long-term.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the technology leadership award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies that significantly impact both the functionality and the customer value of the new products and applications. The award lauds the large R&D spend toward innovation, its relevance to the industry, and the positive impact on combatting illicit trade.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Authentix

Authentix, a leading global authentication and information services company, assists customers in combating illicit trade and managing the integrity of their global supply chains. With comprehensive end-to-end authentication solutions, we help safeguard customers in refined fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel, lubes, and LPG) and branded products (e.g., pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and spirits industries) from counterfeiting, product theft, product diversion, and adulteration. In addition, we help protect currencies for many leading central banks.

Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in the US, UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.authentix.com.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, collaborates with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants. For more than 50 years, Frost & Sullivan has been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Claudia Toscano
P: 210.477.8417
F: 210.348.1003
E: Claudia.Toscao@frost.com

Authentix Announces Jewel Accredited & Certified Partners for Banknote Security and Authentication

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Author: Kathryn Olivier

ADDISON, Texas, Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Authentix®, a leading global authentication and information services company, is pleased to announce that five currency industry organizations have completed the Jewel Certification program. Jewel Certification enables industry suppliers to become more familiar with the design and incorporation of Jewel into the banknote. As part of the process Authentix transfers best practices in the handling, use and quality checks of the feature. Support for a trial to demonstrate incorporation into the ink, varnish, substrate, or finished banknote is also provided.

Jewel is a complete Level Three security platform involving proprietary materials, QC equipment, and specialized sensors to be used by the Central Bank for confirming the presence and correct response of the feature. Jewel is characterized by its high security, durability and ease of incorporation via a wide range of implementation options. Jewel is in use by several leading Central Banks and has been developed in response to the Central Bank’s need to dis-aggregate their supply chain in order to have more options as they strive for highly secure and cost effective currency designs.

“Central Banks increasingly want choice and to build best of breed solutions to stay ahead of counterfeiting threats,” says Tim Driscoll, General Manager of Authentix’s Currency & Tax Stamp Business. “Authentix has partnered with six of the most respected names in banknote substrates, inks, design and printing. Central Banks are assured of continuity and choice when selecting Authentix Jewel.”

Accredited and certified partners include respected names in banknote security such as Landqart AG, PNO Global, Royal Joh. Enschedé and Arjowiggins Security. Authentix will continue to grow the partner program in both size and offerings.

Although Authentix will support all industry suppliers in meeting a Central Bank’s specification for the incorporation of Jewel, Certified partners are uniquely positioned to support the Central Bank’s needs with established competency in print trials and marketing the offering.

About Authentix:
Authentix, a leading global authentication and information services company, assists customers in combating illicit trade and managing the integrity of their global supply chains. With comprehensive end-to-end authentication solutions we help protect currencies for many leading central banks as well as help safeguard customers in refined fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel, lubes, and LPG) and branded products (e.g. pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and spirits industries) from counterfeiting, product theft, product diversion, and adulteration.

Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in the US, UK, UAE, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.authentix.com/offerings/jewel/

 

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