FITCHBURG, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Security Devices International Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryan Ganz to the board of directors, and provides a corporate update.

Mr. Ganz brings more than 30 years of global business experience in sales management, manufacturing, new product design and development, as well as mergers & acquisitions. Mr. Ganz will assist SDI with sales & marketing, expansion of the Company’s product range, review of operations, implementation of cost control measures, development of strategic alliances and financial oversight. During his career Mr. Ganz has bought, built and sold more than half a dozen global businesses with combined sales in excess of $1.0 billion. Most recently, Mr. Ganz sold Maine Industrial Tire LLC to Trelleborg (based out of Sweden) for $67 million generating a 7.0x return to investors over a three-year period.

Mr. Ganz is a graduate of Columbia Law School in New York City and completed his accounting designation at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

With the appointment of Mr. Ganz to the board of directors, the previously announced resignation of Greg Sullivan as a director becomes effective.

Sales Focus

SDI continues to garner new law enforcement and correctional services customer agencies throughout North America. Agencies that purchase from the Company now total 57 in these two sectors.

On July 5th, the Company began a sales blitz of its top selling products to gain additional market-share in its targeted sectors. Reduced manufacturing costs have permitted SDI to offer its customers and targeted agencies very attractive pricing of its rounds.

Distribution Partner

SDI has signed a distribution agreement with Mission Less-Lethal for international sales of its BIP line of products. Mission has extensive relationships throughout South America and the Caribbean region, as well as associations in the Far East. As a world leader in their style of launcher and ammunition, Mission has been selling into thousands of agencies (Federal, State, Local, and International Police, Military, and Private Security agencies) for over 15 years.

Operations

The Company has substantially reduced its production costs of its most popular products during the last quarter. These cost reductions will support SDI’s sales blitz effort to continue to gain market penetration in the law enforcement, correctional services, and private sector segments.

Website Update

SDI has updated its website to continue to manage its digital presence, as well as maintain its top positioning in search engines for the less-lethal industry. The Company has also revised it messaging to respond to recent global law enforcement confrontations, such as incidents in the US, South America and in Europe.

Corporate

As press released on June 20, 2016, and effective as of July 18th, 2016, the Company installed new leadership from Dean Thrasher, the interim Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Thrasher brings 31 years start-up business management skills, mergers & acquisitions, product launches, product development, and funding experience in the technology, wholesale, manufacturing, distribution, retail and franchise sectors, as well as extensive international business and public market experience. Mr. Thrasher has run and managed several private companies as well as a TSX-Venture listed public company, and chaired and sat on numerous private and public company boards.