26.01.2011

New MD for Dinolift

Finnish based access equipment manufacturer Dinolift has appointed Karin Nars as its new managing director.

Nars, previously sales manager with the company, is the daughter of owner Lars-Petter Godenhielm, who stepped back in as managing director in February 2009, following the departure of Erkki Hokkinen. She has been a main board director of the company since 2004.
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Karin Nars

Nars, an economist by education, established and ran a retail business before joining Dinolift after having started her career in the international marketing department of French consumer products group L’Oréal.

Her first role at Dinolift involved looking for new markets for the company and has been actively involved in product development projects.

Speaking on her appointment Nars said: “I am very much looking forward to managing Dinolift at this interesting turning point of the market. We have a strong market presence in our core markets, thanks to our loyal customers who appreciate our products and their excellent performance. This year we will introduce a new product-line which I am sure will be appreciated by our customers. Despite recent difficult conditions in the marketplace we have a strong belief in the future growth of our company. We have many strengths, the main one being dedicated co-workers who have shown their loyalty to the company in these turbulent times.”

Lars-Petter Godenhielm will step aside from the day to day management of the company but will continue his involvement in Dinolift as a member of the board of directors.

Vertikal Comment

It is an exceptionally hard job to take over as head of the family company, particularly when you are taking over from the founder. You have to work at least twice as hard and be two or three times better than an unrelated applicant if you are to be looked on as having truly deserved the job as the best candidate.

As a result many avoid it. While only her colleagues know for sure how deserving she is, Nars has worked hard within Dinolift over a long period of time in various departments, made some shrewd decisions and would seem to be a very worthy successor.

The company has a great deal going for it, but does need to continue or even step up the changes and developments it has begun over the past couple of years – expanding and developing the product line and its distribution network. Nars is as competent and well placed to do this as anyone else in the industry. And she has the full and unwavering support of the chairman.

A winning combination.