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Group Managing Director Peter Dunlop celebrates 25 years at ITL

Published

5 years ago

August 12, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Innovative Technology’s (ITL) Group Managing Director, Peter Dunlop, celebrates a quarter of a century at the company this month. From university placement to heading up this successful international company, Peter and his management team have developed, transformed, and established ITL as a leading cash handling and validation business with offices worldwide and several hundred employees.

Commenting on his impressive time at ITL, Peter said, “I feel honoured to head-up ITL and see how the company has progressed over the past 25 years. Our ethos is technology-driven, and we proudly offer our customers the most advanced cash validation, recycling and more recently, biometrics solutions in the industry. The industry is constantly changing and adapting to customers’ needs and expectations and I look forward to continuing my role and being part of its exciting future.”

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 as a permanent employee after he graduated from the University of Manchester in 1996. Peter began in the Development team in Royton, UK which gradually grew over the years, and he climbed his way up the ladder, eventually becoming Development Manager responsible for a team of mechanical, electronic and software engineers and new product development. Peter then progressed to the more strategic position of Group Technical Director, before finally being promoted to Group Managing Director in 2017. Peter oversees the company’s strategic direction and the day-to-day management of the group and has been key to ITL’s success and growth due to his leadership ability and focus on technology-driven products and services.

Peter is rarely away from the UK head office in Oldham but when he does take some time out, he can be found unwinding on his boat that is moored at Pwllheli in North Wales. Peter’s boat isn’t just for relaxation purposes, he and its crew compete in a number of races on the high seas and have successfully won a number of times!

ITL Chairman, David Bellis MBE, said “Peter’s expertise, commitment and knowledge is an integral part of our success. He is an absolute pleasure to work with and it has been an honour to witness how he has developed both himself as an individual and the company over the past 25 years. He is one of my longest standing employees, an incredibly competent and capable engineer, manager and leader and I look forward to seeing where he will take the company in the coming years.”

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

5 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

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