Doron Livnat increases Riwal stake as Jaap Schalekamp departs

Jaap Schalekamp has left Riwal and Doron Livnat has increased his share of the business from 33% to 50% as part of a management reorganisation by the Netherlands access and power rental company.

Jaap, brother to Dick Schalekamp jr, was previously in charge of Riwal's transport logistics company and the Riwal Crane Rental business. His role changed when the logistics business was merged with the access division and when Riwal Crane Rental was sold last year to Sarens.

Rik Maaskant, Riwal's communications and marketing manager, told IRN that the shift in ownership structure and the management changes were part of Riwal's transition from being an informally-led, family-owned business to a more structured, multi-national company.

The Schalekamp family retain a 50% interest through chief executive officer, Dick Schalekamp.

Riwal said Jaap's departure was amicable; "The 52 year old started to work for his father's rental company in 1974. Leaving the company with pride and in good health he will dedicate his time to his family, hobbies, as well as other business ventures outside the Riwal scope."

Riwal has also appointed Willem Ledeboer as a member of the board. Mr Ledeboer is chief commercial officer at ProDelta - Doron Livnat's investment company - and comes from the corporate banking sector. Doron Livnat is chairman of the board; Coert Nodelijk, a 13 year Riwal veteran and most recently operations manager in the Netherlands, becomes chief operational officer; and a fifth board member will be appointed as chief financial officer.

Other recent appointments and new job positions include Hans Schmelling, manager finance & administration North West Europe (The Netherlands, France, Scandinavia); Jeff Eisenberg, manager finance rest for the world; and Jacques Catinot, who now has responsibilities for international sales of used equipment and re-rental to add to his position as managing partner of Riwal France.

Riwal was founded as a crane rental company in 1968 by Dick Schalekamp Sr, later becoming an access rental specialist. Around the year 2000 Doron Livnat became a 33% shareholder and the last five years as seen the company extend its geographical coverage and its product offering, with power rental now offered in several countries in addition to Riwal's core access rentals activities.