19.08.2019

New COO for AFI

UK based rental group AFI has appointed Nick Higgins as group chief operating officer.

The move follows last week’s acquisition of Facelift, the ownership of the group returning to the senior management team, and the securing of new long term financing from Pricoa Private Capital. See AFI acquires Facelift and restructures

In his new role Higgins will assume overall responsibility for AFI’s UK rental operations as well as group services, working closely with group chief executive David McNicholas and the current UK rental management team, which includes Steve Williams of AFI Uplift, Pete Wajner of the Specialist Rental Division along with Neil Gellender and Graham Hawkins of Hampshire Plant and Access.
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Nick Higgins

Higgins joined AFI in September 2006, when he and his business partner Ruairi Duggan agreed to merge the access business they owned – Uplift – with AFI, See AFI to merge with Uplift. Since then he has held a number of senior positions including operations director in 2008, adding health, safety, environment and quality affairs, following the appointment of Steve Williams and Pete Wajner as directors in 2013,

The move is intended to allow David McNicholas to work more closely with chairman David Shipman on future strategy.

Shipman said: “Nick has been an integral member of our Senior Management Team for almost 13 years now and throughout that time he has always put the needs of the team first. Backed up by over 30 years’ experience in the industry he has made a success of his roles at AFI whether they have been at the sharp end of the business, or more latterly in providing invaluable support to the wider business through Group Services. He is a great team player and this promotion is well deserved. We all wish him well in his new role.”