- Founded
- 1999-01-01 in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
- Headquarters
- Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
- Phone
- +44 908-200022
Safenames Ltd is a UK-based domain name registrar and online brand protection company founded in 1999 by Simon (Sam) McManus in Milton Keynes. Privately held and ICANN-accredited since 2002, the company manages over 250,000 domain names for enterprise clients, offering registration across more than 700 top-level domains covering 240 countries and territories. Its wrap-around service model combines bulk domain management, dedicated account support, trademark monitoring, and domain recovery consulting, targeting the marketing, legal, IT, and security teams of large organisations. The company’s centralised platform provides a single interface for domain registration, renewal, transfer, and DNS management, backed by brand surveillance tools that detect cybersquatting and phishing. With an estimated 51–200 employees, Safenames operates as a single, accountable partner for global enterprises seeking to consolidate and protect their online presence. Notably, in 2026 it expanded its local sponsorship to become the Official First Team Training Kit Partner of Milton Keynes Dons FC, reflecting its community engagement in its home region.
Detailed Review
History and Founding
Safenames Ltd was founded in 1999 by Simon (Sam) McManus in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. The company achieved ICANN accreditation in 2002, a key milestone that allowed it to operate as a domain name registrar. Over the years, it has grown to manage over 250,000 domain names for corporate clients, positioning itself as a trusted consultant for enterprise domain portfolio management.
Business Model and Services
Safenames differentiates itself through a comprehensive 'wrap-around' service model that goes beyond simple registration. It works alongside marketing, digital, legal, IT, and security teams to offer strategic domain portfolio management. The company’s core services include global domain registration across 700+ TLDs, a web-based domain management platform for bulk operations, online trademark protection that scans for cybersquatting and phishing, domain recovery consulting, and managed hosting and data centre services.
Market Position and Competitors
Safenames competes in the B2B domain management space alongside major registrars such as MarkMonitor, CSC, and BrandShelter. Its long heritage (over 25 years), dedicated account management, and strong focus on legal and brand protection aspects give it a differentiated edge. The company is privately held with no external funding rounds, according to Tracxn and Crunchbase data.
Notable Partnerships and News
In 2026, Safenames became the Official First Team Training Kit Partner of Milton Keynes Dons FC, expanding a local sponsorship to underline its community commitment. The company operates two data centres and provides managed hosting and cybersecurity solutions integrated with domain management.
Leadership
The company is led by CEO Adan McManus, while founder Simon McManus is no longer listed in an executive officer role based on publicly available sources. Other key executives include Richard Morley as Head of Global Sales and Caroline Valle as Legal Services Manager. The company does not publish a formal leadership page on its website, and no other C-level roles (CTO, COO, CFO) were confirmed from independent sources.
Key Products
Brand Protection Services
Online trademark monitoring, detection of cybersquatting, phishing, and infringement, with enforcement support.
Domain Recovery Consulting
Advisory and operational services for reclaiming expired, hijacked, or contested domain names.
Hosting & Data Centre Services
Managed web hosting, dedicated servers, and colocation services via two company-operated data centres.
Domain Registration
Registration in over 700 TLDs (gTLDs, ccTLDs, new gTLDs) covering more than 240 countries and territories.
Domain Management Platform
Centralised web-based interface for bulk domain registration, renewal, transfer, DNS management, and WHOIS administration.
Offices & Headcount
125 employees (approx.)