Border Merchant Systems is preparing to bid farewell to one of its longest-serving and most influential team members.
After an extraordinary 35 years with the business, Development Manager Denise Townsend has announced her retirement, marking the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the development team.
A statement from Border explains that Denise has been “instrumental in shaping the success and direction” of the company, with her “leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment have played a pivotal role in the evolution of (its) flagship solution, CounterAct.” The announcement continues: “Over more than three decades, she has helped guide the business through technological change, industry shifts, and customer growth, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to influence the company for years to come.”
As Denise steps into a well-earned retirement, the company has announced the appointment of Andy Edwards as Development Manager.
Andy joined Border in 2021 and has quickly become an integral part of the team. He brings with him a wealth of experience dating back to 1997, having built a strong career in software development, predominantly within the packaging and print industry. His extensive technical background, combined with his deep understanding of Border’s systems and processes, makes him ideally placed to take on this leadership role.
Having worked closely alongside Denise since joining the company, Andy is well prepared for the responsibilities ahead. He has been deeply involved in the ongoing development and enhancement of CounterAct and “understands both the technical framework and the customer-driven priorities that shape the product roadmap.”
The software specialist notes that it now “boasts the largest development team in its history, with eight skilled professionals contributing a diverse blend of expertise, creativity and industry knowledge.” (see panel below). Under Andy’s leadership, the team will continue to focus on maintaining the highest standards of quality control while driving innovation and ensuring the system evolves to meet ever-changing customer needs.
Andy has expressed his confidence in the strong foundations Denise has established, emphasising that her influence will continue to guide the team’s approach. He also recognises the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technology and evolving market demands but remains enthusiastic and ready to embrace them.
For instance, a key priority moving forward will be the continued transition of CounterAct users to the new FWD system — a long-term strategic project that represents the future of the platform and one that is now firmly within reach.
The Border statement concludes: “While Denise will be greatly missed, everyone at Border Merchant Systems looks forward to supporting Andy in his new role and celebrating the next phase of growth. Denise leaves with heartfelt thanks for her dedication, loyalty, and exceptional contribution to the company’s enduring success.”
Border has also recently welcomed Josh Turner, who joins as a Senior Software Developer. Before joining the firm, Josh worked as a Senior Software Engineer at eProductivity Software in Dronfield, Derbyshire. His role was a back-end developer on a web application as part of a wider modernisation project, helping to improve and evolve the system’s architecture.
He also developed APIs to support the integration of third-party software into their platform, making sure everything worked smoothly together. Alongside that, he has managed a small development team based across the UK and India, which gave a great experience working with distributed teams and balancing hands-on development with leadership responsibilities.
At Border, Josh will be working as part of the development team on the CounterAct FWD project, contributing to new features, ongoing improvements, and the overall reliability of the platform.
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