Flannery names United leadership team

Matthew Flannery, president and CEO of United Rentals, has named his executive leadership team.

Paul McDonnell has been appointed as chief commercial officer and Dale Asplund has been promoted to chief operating officer.

McDonnell will lead the company’s specialty rental operations domestically and abroad, with company-wide responsibility for sales, marketing and digital commerce. McDonnell has been with the company since 1999 when he was involved with district management following his appointment as region vice president. In 2008, he was named senior vice president, specialty operations and oversaw the strategic expansion of the company’s specialty footprint to more than 340 locations. Most recently, he served as executive vice president, sales and specialty operations.

Asplund will lead the company’s general rentals segment. In addition, he will continue to lead the company’s functional organizations for information technology, corporate fleet management and procurement. Asplund has served in senior positions with United Rentals since joining the company in 1998, including leadership roles in supply chain operations, fleet management, shared services and acquisition integration. Most recently, he served as executive vice president, business services and chief information officer.

Also continuing to serve on the executive leadership team are Craig Pintoff, chief administrative and legal officer, and Jessica Graziano, chief financial officer.

Michael Kneeland ended his 10-year tenure as CEO on May 8, when he was replaced by Flannery. Kneeland will remain with United as non-executive Chairman.

Kneeland had spent 20 years with United, the last 10 as CEO, and has been at the helm during a period of remarkable growth. Since 2009 it has nearly doubled in size and now operates 1,200 locations with 18,800 employees and annual revenue of more than US$7.8 billion.

“Our company has benefitted from the seasoned leadership of Paul and Dale for the past two decades,” said Flannery. “Their new roles underscore the deep bench strength we have within United Rentals, as well as the continuity we’ve achieved with our succession plan. I look forward to working with our executive team and board of directors – and most of all, with our employees – as we write the next chapter of our growth.”