01.08.2006

Paylor moves up

JLG Industries has today announced two senior appointments, effective immediately.

Craig Paylor, currently responsible for North American sales, marketing and product support is now responsible for these functions on a worldwide basis.

As senior vice president, marketing Paylor will be responsible for all aspects of the company's marketing, sales, sales support, customer service, service parts and service operations worldwide.

At the same time Timothy Morris has been promoted to vice president, North American market development and sales, essentially taking over most of Paylors current role.

Morris will serve as an officer of the company with responsibility for North American sales and distribution, sales support and government products and programs.

Chief executive Bill Lasky said: "In today's rapidly growing and changing sales and customer environment, it is necessary for JLG to continue the globalisation of its marketing and sales initiatives. Craig's skills and experience will help us successfully address these challenges as we continue to leverage our presence outside of North America,".

Paylor joined JLG in 1978 as an assistant district manager and has held a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities.
Morris joined JLG in 1992 as a sales trainee and has held a variety of sales and marketing positions.

Vertikal Comment

Promoting Craig Paylor to a worldwide role at JLG may come as a surprise to some, given that he has little international experience and has shown little interest, at least externally, in the international market.

However if he is to continue to rise in the ranks at JLG, some worldwide experience is essential. The move also unites the company’s worldwide marketing efforts, a definite benefit in a shrinking world.

The word is that Paylor is also being groomed to take over from Bill Lasky as the company’s chief operating officer, which is why he was sent on a Harvard Executive Business Program, from which he recently graduated. If this is the case then this move looks completely logical.

In his new role he will clearly be the key player in JLG’s efforts to move ahead of Genie in the aerial lift market, while attempting to grab market leadership away from Manitou and JCB in the telehandler market.

On the telehandler side JLG is already the clear market leader in North America, thanks to a string of acquisition. Its greatest challenge is overseas, where its market share is still miniscule. The deal with CAT which is progressing at a cracking pace will help a little, but the greatest challenge is to establish JLG as a product to be considered as widely and as readily as Manitou, JCB, Merlo and CAT.

If the talk of Paylor taking over as chief executive has any foundation, then one assumes that when he moves up into that role, either the recently promoted Isreal Celli, Senior vice president of international marketing or Tim Morris, will step into Paylors new shoes?

A final word: We predicted that Paylor would be promoted as far back as May 26th See Vertikal Comment on JLG recognises Celli