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People
Matsui
Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas has announced Hidehiko Matsui as its incoming chairman and chief executive officer( CEO) and Simon Wilson as its new chief operating officer( COO). The
Wilson McFarland
appointments follow the planned retirements of current CEO Al Quinn and Chairman Sonosuke Ishii.
Matsui, a long-standing executive within Hitachi Construction Machinery, brings decades of global experience to the role. His career has largely focused on sales and marketing leadership across multiple regions, including Europe and Southeast Asia. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer, president of the global marketing group and president of the Rental and Used Equipment Business Unit.
Wilson, who currently serves as vice president of Construction at Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, will step into the COO position, assuming full operational leadership of the company. With more than 28 years of experience in the heavy equipment industry, Wilson was instrumental in launching the Americas division and has held leadership roles in sales, operations and executive management throughout his career.
Engineered Rigging has appointed Dave Thorsen as a technical sales specialist,
Thorsen bringing 25 years of experience in heavy lifting and transport to the company. Thorsen has previously held sales engineer and management roles at Sarens, Mammoet, Enerpac and Lift Systems. In his new position, he will focus on identifying innovative lifting solutions, recommending cost-effective technologies and providing technical expertise during the sales and bidding process. He will also support the transition from sales to project execution.
California Manufacturing and Engineering Company( MEC) has promoted Brian McFarland to executive vice president.
McFarland, who joined MEC in 2020 as vice president of parts and service, will now oversee the company’ s sales, marketing and operational teams to ensure a world-class experience for its customers.
Before joining MEC, he served as general manager and president at Equipment Parts Wholesale, where he led the company through its sale to TVH. His career in the AWP industry began in 1995 with UpRight, where he gained progressive responsibilities in parts and service over seven years. McFarland is also a U. S. Marine Corps veteran and will continue to report to MEC President David White.
MEC’ s leadership changes come as part of the company’ s ongoing efforts to strengthen its position in the AWP market and expand its reach in the rental industry.
CMC North America has appointed Jeff Poggi as its new chief executive officer. Poggi succeeds Ryan Polonski, who founded the company in 2011 and led it through its initial growth phase.
Poggi brings extensive leadership experience in hightech business-to-business industries, with a background in sales, marketing, research and development and operations. He previously served as CEO of McIntosh Group, where he successfully scaled distribution and enhanced customer satisfaction through operational excellence.
Manufacturers
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Lift and Access magazine is now seeking entries for its 2025 Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms( LLEAP) Awards program, which honors the industry’ s most innovative equipment, support products and services introduced in the past year. Enter your innovative new products for your chance to join a distinguished set of honorees.
The deadline for entries is Thursday, July 3. The 2025 awards will recognize products that have been introduced into the North American market between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, and are currently available in North America.
HAWE Hydraulik USA has announced the expansion of its hydraulic cartridge valve portfolio. The new offering complements the company’ s traditional valves— including the PMVE, RK, CLHV, OSCA, BVE and CDK models— by introducing a full line of flow and pressure control cartridge valves designed to support a wide range of flows.
These new valves are available in multiple cavity types, including SAE Common, HAWE and T- ** A, offering engineers and equipment professionals a broader selection of system-compatible components.
Safety & Training
Terex Utilities has introduced new maintenance training workshops to replace its traditional annual Service School. The workshops are designed specifically for mechanics who service Terex digger derricks and Hi-Ranger bucket trucks.
The shift from a single annual event to multiple focused sessions allows for in-depth, hands-on training on individual equipment types.
The first two workshops of the year focused on the Hi-Ranger Optima bucket truck in January and digger derricks in early March, attracting participants from across the country.
The revised format is intended to provide mechanics with training that directly applies to the equipment in their fleets. Feedback from attendees has been highly positive, especially regarding the hands-on learning experience.
Additional workshops planned for 2025 will cover digger derricks, distribution aerials and the Hi-Ranger aerial devices. Seats are limited, and Terex Utilities has announced plans to expand the workshop series into 2026.
Dealers
Magni Telescopic Handlers has named RP Rents as its newest dealer, expanding its reach in the greater Chicago area.
Based in Naperville, Illinois, RP Rents will offer Magni’ s full line of rotating, fixed boom and heavy lift telehandlers for construction, industrial and material handling applications.
RP Rents leadership emphasized the benefits of the partnership, stating it would enhance the company’ s commitment to innovation, efficiency and customer success.
RP Rents has completed training on the sales, service and application of Magni’ s telehandlers. Its team is prepared to assist customers in maximizing the equipment’ s performance.
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