Rental appointments

The Bullock family opened their first store in 2003 and added two more in 2004 and 2007. Pictured receiving the award at Volvo Rents' annual franchise convention held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 17-20 January, are (left to right) Barry Natwick, Volvo Rents president/CEO, Melissa Bullock, Jason Bullock, Lana Bullock, and Marty Moore, Volvo Rents vice president North America franchise development. (Paul Bullock, father of Melissa and Jason, was present but is not pictured.)

The award is given to the franchises that demonstrate strong store growth, dollar utilisation, training attendance, ‘clean' financial status, marketing, branding and appearance.

Also recognised at the convention was Wacker Neuson, who won the vendor of the year award. Over 400 attendees from North America and Europe attended the event, including representatives from 70 vendors.

PHOTO STORY
Pictured at the recent ARA Rental Show in Las Vegas is Bill Begley and his wife Kay, following Mr Begley's induction into the ARA's rental hall of fame - the first European to receive the honour. He began his career in rental in 1963 and started visiting the ARA show in 1968, and has attended over 20 shows since then, often with his business partner Alan Pilkington. The business they founded, and from which Mr Begley retired four years ago, is Hire-All Event and Party, the largest company of its kind in Ireland.

PEOPLE NEWS

* Israel Celli, JLG Industries senior vice president international market development and sales, is to retire from the company on 15 February. Mr Celli, who joined JLG in 2000 and led JLG's international sales team as it grew from US$200 million (€140 million) to projected revenues of over $1 billion (€690 million) this year, said his departure has been "very amicable and friendly. It was my decision."

Mr Celli, who has signed a two-year, non-compete agreement with JLG, said, "It's always best to retire when you are at your peak. It's just time to move on. I love the company - I still bleed orange." He said that he would remain living in the Netherlands, where he has family still in education, and that after a brief rest he would look for a new challenge. Although working for an access manufacturer will not be possible, he did not rule out a job in the rental industry or a with a non-access manufacturer.

Craig Paylor, JLG's president, in a memo to staff, said JLG was disappointed but respected his decision; "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Israel for all that he has done in leading our international business segments to record levels and the sacrifices I know he has made in preparing the organisation for the future."

Although leaving JLG in mid-February, Mr Celli will return to the company to attend Conexpo.

* GenSet plc in the UK has named Paul Hay as managing director of TowerLight, its sister company that sells lighting towers and other rental products worldwide.

TowerLight's previous managing director, Robert Saunders, is now GenSet's group chief executive.

Mr Hay combines his new role with his previous position as marketing and key account manager for GenSet in the UK.

TowerLight, which has a manufacturing facility near Milan, Italy, produced 6200 units in 2007, and the company's revenues have grown dramatically since 2001. In addition to lighting towers, it sells pumps, portable storage products and site cabins.

Mr Hay joined GenSet plc, headquartered in Port Talbot, Wales, as marketing support manager in 1993 and was part of TowerLight's inception in 1999.

GenSet sells a wide range of generators, lighting towers, portable accommodation units and pumps in the UK, in particular to the rental sector. It is the exclusive UK and Ireland dealer for Italian manufacturer GenSet.

* Doosan Infracore Portable Power has named Shawn Sweet as its vice president for global marketing. Mr Sweet was previously vice president of sales for North America for Ingersoll Rand, having joined the group in 1990. Ingersoll Rand Utility Equipment was acquired by Doosan Infracore in late 2007 and became Doosan Infracore Portable Power.

* Two major UK rental companies have made senior level health and safety appointments. Finning Group UK, owner of Hewden, has appointed Jim Gray (pictured) to the new role of head of safety, health, environment and quality. Mr Gray will have 15 staff and will "spearhead improvement programmes across all lines of business within the group including heavy construction, general construction, Finning Power Systems and Hewden." Mr Gray, who joins Finning from the UK's Environment Agency, will also join Finning Group's executive team.

Meanwhile, A-Plant has appointed Douglas McLuckie (pictured) as its new director of environment, health and safety and performance standards. Mr McLuckie has a 24 year career in the environmental, health and safety sector, latterly with Laird Group plc where he was responsible for global strategic environment, health and safety risk.

A-Plant said Mr McLuckie "will be responsible for the development of strategic A-Plant performance standards and environment, health and safety plans

* CNH Global NV, the agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer and subsidiary of Fiat, has appointed Giuseppe Fano as president and CEO of New Holland Construction Equipment, reporting to CNH president and CEO Harold Boyanovsky.

CNH said Mr Fano has taken over from Franco Fenoglio who has resigned from the company after more than two years of to pursue other interests. Mr Fano joined CNH in 2006 and most recently served as vice president sales and marketing, Europe at New Holland Construction, a position he retains in the interim. Mr Fano is also president of Comamoter (the Italian Association of construction machinery manufacturers).

*Carlo Forini (pictured), general manager of Terex's telehandler facility in Italy, has been promoted to lead Terex's global telehandler business. Mr Forini will spend half of his time in Redmond, US and half in Italy.

* Lawson Software, which includes the former Intentia software business, has appointed Nick Scully (pictured) as its managing director for operations in northwest Europe. He will report to Franck Cohen, senior vice president of Lawson in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Lawson supplies a wide range of software, including products designed for equipment rental.

Mr Scully joins Lawson from enterprise resource planning software company SAP, where he held the position of sales director for the UK and Ireland. He has more than 18 years' experience in software, having worked for companies including: Computer Associates, Access Technology and System Industries.

* Dan Musson has been appointed sales director at the UK's Hire Supply Company. Mr Musson joined the company in 2001 but has been in the plant and equipment industry since 1987. He will head the sales team from across the UK and will be responsible for all aspects of the company's sales operation.

* Scott R Nelson (pictured), formerly president, Bobcat Europe, Middle East and Africa, has been promoted to the position of president, Bobcat Company Worldwide, and will report directly to David Rowles, CEO, Doosan Infracore International, Inc. Mr Nelson replaces Richard Pedtke, former Bobcat president, who has decided to retire after 37 years with Ingersoll Rand.

Bobcat is one of three businesses operated by Doosan Infracore International: Bobcat Company; Doosan Infracore Portable Power and DII Attachments. All three were acquired by Doosan Infracore from Ingersoll Rand last year.

Other senior management changes include a promotion of Neil Woodfin (pictured) to president of Bobcat, EMEA. He was formerly vice president, sales and marketing, Bobcat EMEA. Norbert Donaberger, formerly in charge of Bobcat's telehandler business, becomes vice president sales and service, reporting directly to Neil Woodfin, and Iris Truyen is promoted to the position of service director.