ESA appoints Jillian Bateman-McIntosh as COO 

DALLAS—The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has announced Jillian Bateman-McIntosh as its chief operating officer (COO). 

Bateman-McIntosh steps into the new role with a deep commitment to further expand and update the association’s educational programs and offerings, help improve member benefits, and serve the industry at a higher level of impact. 

Having demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication for the association and its mission for close to seven years, Bateman-McIntosh brings 15 years of experience in the low voltage technology industry and a deep understanding of ESA’s values coupled with a drive to grow its industry impact.  

As COO, she will optimize processes, workflows, and resources to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and maximize productivity. She will also spearhead the strategic implementation of the Board of Directors’ strategic plans, translating their vision into actionable steps to achieve organizational goals. In addition, she will contribute to fostering a culture of innovation within the ESA organization, encouraging the adoption of new technologies and practices to stay competitive in the marketplace. 

“I’m so very excited to have the ability to reach further across the ESA organization,” Bateman-McIntosh said. “I am extremely confident in the team and culture we’ve worked hard to build at ESA. I am surrounded by a passionate team of individuals who are eager to roll up their sleeves, think differently, collaborate — and serve this wonderful industry in its quest to keep people, places, and property safe. I’m confident in our team and in our ability to advance ESA and the benefits we offer to make an even larger impact in the years to come.” 

During her tenure, Bateman-McIntosh has overseen the association’s membership, events, business development, and marketing/communications departments. She has led a rebranding effort, a plethora of product evolutions and has worked diligently to bring repeatable processes into the organization to improve the quality and efficiency of customer experiences. Her leadership through COVID helped to deliver resources and information that were vital to the well-being of electronic security and life safety businesses. 

“Jillian is an invaluable asset to the organization, leading and developing team members across various departments, all while growing ESA’s influence through effective marketing strategies,” noted ESA CEO Merlin Guilbeau. “Her operations expertise will be a key driver in building our future success to better serve members and positively impact the ESA community. As COO, Jillian will work closely with me and members of the leadership team to accelerate the execution of the association’s strategy and help us gain efficiencies that lead to faster growth.” 

Prior to joining ESA, Bateman-McIntosh launched the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in its infancy with events management company AE Ventures and was integral to the success of the TotalTech and TecHome Builder online news media and event stack.

She holds an MA from Carnegie Mellon University and currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pa., with her husband and three daughters.