JLG Announces Key Leadership Changes

May 15, 2007 • Six months after JLG Industries, McConnellsburg, Pa., was acquired by Oshkosh Truck Corp., changes in key leadership roles are beginning to take place. Today, Charlie Szews, president of JLG and executive vice president and chief financial officer for Oshkosh Truck Corp., announced that Kirsten Skyba, Mike Rafi, Joe Dixon, and Wayne Lawson will each expand their roles with JLG.

 

Kirsten Skyba

Formerly the vice president of marketing communications for Oshkosh Truck Corp., Kirsten Skyba has accepted the position of vice president of global marketing for JLG. Skyba will remain an officer of Oshkosh Truck Corp., while focusing her marketing leadership skills on leading the development and implementation of JLG's global marketing strategies to support near- and long-term business objectives.

 

Mike Rafi

Valuing and growing the Caterpillar Alliance remains one of the key areas of strategic focus for JLG, and Mike Rafi has been promoted to the position of vice president and general manager for the Caterpillar Alliance Group. According to JLG, Rafi has demonstrated strategic vision and strong partnering capabilities, and he has established a strong global team that has JLG well-positioned to achieve its objectives with the alliance.

 

Joe Dixon

JLG also announces the promotion of Joe Dixon to vice president and general manager of ServicePlus. With operations in Houston, Atlanta, McConnellsburg, and Tonneins, France, and an operation in the works in California, ServicePlus will continue to support JLG's customer needs and provide a full spectrum of products and aftermarket support. Dixon will ensure that the ServicePlus organization continues to have an ever-increasing global presence and commitment to customer service.

 

Wayne Lawson

Wayne Lawson, vice president of sales and customer support for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, will assume expanded responsibility in which he will take an even more prominent role in leading the development and implementation of the EAME market development and sales strategies while continuing to provide leadership for the sales and service operations and customer support functions. He will also assume responsibility for the major accounts team in Europe, along with the used equipment sales team and associated initiatives.

 

Craig Paylor

While it is not yet official, speculation is running high that these moves are part of an overall restructuring intended to support the promotion of Craig Paylor from his current position, senior vice president - marketing, to company president. Paylor has been working with interim president, Charles Szews, since Oshkosh purchased JLG in November 2006. The announcement of Paylor's promotion is considered imminent and could possibly be made as soon as today.