Kaspersky spreads the UK love with new MD and London hub

EX-UK boss Malcolm Tuck becomes European director of strategic alliances and is replaced by Kirill Slavin

Security vendor Kaspersky has pledged its commitment to the UK market by placing its new European hub in London and appointing a new managing director to run the country's business.

From today, former UK boss Malcolm Tuck will take on the role of European director of strategic alliances, and Kirill Slavin will run the UK operations as his replacement. Prior to the role, Slavin held global positions at Pepsi and Deloitte.

The management rejig comes as the vendor finalises plans to open a new European hub in London, which is set to open next month. It claims the move is designed to put the firm at the heart of the UK's capital in order to aid growth and development for the UK and European businesses.

More than 100 staff will call the Paddington-based office home when it opens in mid-October, with sales and marketing teams set to be the first to settle in, followed by everyone else in the next two years.

Alexander Moiseev, Kaspersky's European managing director, said the UK is a key territory for the firm and the new office proves this.

"UK growth and increased presence is a key focus for the business," he said. "The move to make the UK operation more prominent is testament to the importance the company places on the UK and European markets.

"We are confident that having UK, European and global functions in one dynamic new office will aid synergy and integration across the business, resulting in an all-round better customer experience."

Moiseev will oversee Tuck in his new European role, in which he will be tasked with building partnerships with SIs, outsourcers and other pan-European partners.

"A flagship office in the thick of the business centre of London, together with these new appointments, will bring us closer to our customers and our goals," he added.